1. In 1844, a devastating fire broke out in St. Louis, Missouri, destroying over 400 buildings and causing an estimated $10 million in damage. The fire, which started in a downtown warehouse, quickly spread to neighboring buildings and raged for over 16 hours before finally being extinguished.

2. On August 29, 1862, the Battle of Newtonia was fought in southwestern Missouri during the American Civil War. Union forces, led by General James G. Blunt, engaged Confederate troops under the command of General Douglas H. Cooper. The battle was a Confederate victory, but the Union forces were able to regroup and eventually capture the town of Newtonia a few weeks later.

3. The Missouri State Fair, which is held annually in Sedalia, Missouri, has been operating since 1901. The fair runs for 11 days each August and features a variety of agricultural exhibits, rodeo events, live music, and carnival rides.

4. In 1927, an explosion at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City killed 4 inmates and injured dozens more. The blast was caused by a boiler malfunction and caused significant damage to the prison's dining hall and cellblocks.

5. In 1958, the Gateway Arch, a 630-foot-tall stainless steel monument in St. Louis, Missouri, was completed. Designed by architect Eero Saarinen, the arch is the tallest man-made monument in the United States and serves as a symbol of the city's role as the "Gateway to the West."