1. On August 2, 1792, Kentucky officially became the 15th state of the United States, after gaining statehood following a long period of being a part of the Virginia Colony. The state was named after the Kentucky River, which gets its name from the native Wyandot Indian word "Ken-tah-ten".

2. On August 2, 1861, the Battle of Piketon took place during the American Civil War, in what is now Pike County, Kentucky. The Union army, led by General George W. Morgan, defeated Confederate forces under the command of General Humphrey Marshall.

3. The Kentucky State Fair, which has been held annually since 1816, traditionally takes place in early August. The fair is a showcase of the state’s agriculture, livestock, and culture and features a variety of entertainment, competitions, and exhibits.

4. On August 2, 1938, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of Collins v. Kentucky that evidence obtained through a coerced confession could not be used in criminal trials, thus setting an important precedent for the protection of defendants’ rights.

5. Musicians from Kentucky have had a significant impact on American music history. On August 2, 1937, legendary bluegrass musician and banjo player, Earl Scruggs, was born in Shelby, North Carolina. Scruggs got his start in music in Kentucky, playing with Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys in the late 1940s.