1. In 1861, the first Kansas regiment was organized in Leavenworth for the Union Army during the Civil War. The regiment played an instrumental role in several key battles, including the Battle of Wilson’s Creek and the Battle of Prairie Grove.

2. On April 29, 1901, Frank L. Baum’s beloved children’s book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" was published. While Baum was born in New York, he lived in several cities throughout his life, including Kansas where he worked as a publisher, store clerk, and newspaper editor.

3. In 1926, the University of Kansas Jayhawk football team played their first game in newly constructed Memorial Stadium. Over the years, the stadium has undergone numerous renovations and is now the seventh-largest stadium in the Big 12 Conference.

4. On April 29, 1951, a tornado struck the city of Wichita, causing widespread damage and claiming 17 lives. The tornado was part of a larger outbreak that affected several states in the Midwest.

5. In 2014, a rare manuscript called the "Gospel of Barnabas" was discovered in a Kansas City museum. The manuscript, which dates back to the 16th century, contains a unique version of the life of Jesus Christ and has been the subject of much debate and scrutiny by scholars around the world.