1. The Day the Atomic Bomb was Dropped: On August 6, 1945, a B-29 bomber called the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, effectively ending World War II. Utah played a crucial role in the development of the atomic bomb, with the Manhattan Project taking place at the remote Area 51 in southern Utah.

2. Utah’s Centennial Anniversary: August 6, 1947, marked the 100th anniversary of Utah becoming a U.S. territory. To celebrate, President Harry S. Truman issued a proclamation declaring August 6th as Utah Statehood Centennial Day, with festivities and parades held throughout the state.

3. Salt Lake City Hosts the Olympics: On August 6, 2002, the Winter Olympics kicked off in Salt Lake City, Utah. Over 2,500 athletes from 77 nations competed in various winter sports, with the U.S. winning the most medals. The Salt Lake City Olympics were also noteworthy for being the first Olympic Games held following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

4. The First Transcontinental Air Race: On August 6, 1929, the first transcontinental air race was held, starting in New York and ending in Los Angeles. Pilots flew over 2,400 miles, with the winning team completing the race in just over 27 hours. One of the stops during the race was in Salt Lake City, where the pilots were greeted by thousands of cheering fans.

5. The Birth of a Utah Cowboy: August 6, 1962, marked the birth of famous rodeo cowboy Ty Murray in Phoenix, Arizona. However, Murray spent much of his childhood in Utah and attended college at Utah Valley University in Orem, where he honed his rodeo skills. Murray went on to become a seven-time All-Around World Champion Cowboy and was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2020.