1. On December 13, 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and their exploration party arrived at La Charette, a French fur trading post in present-day Missouri, becoming the first American explorers to traverse the region.

2. On December 13, 1861, Missouri was officially recognized by the Union as a state in the Civil War after being in a state of confusion and conflict over the issue of secession.

3. Charles Lindbergh, the famous aviator and author, was born in Detroit, Michigan on December 13, 1902 but spent much of his childhood in St. Louis, Missouri, attending high school there before starting his journey to become one of the most famous aviators in history.

4. On December 13, 1932, Governor Guy B. Park declared martial law in the town of La Plata, Missouri due to a violent clash between striking miners and mine owners. Martial law lasted for four days, during which time the National Guard occupied the town and restored order.

5. On December 13, 2019, St. Louis, Missouri became the first U.S. city to ban discrimination against women who are pregnant, who have recently given birth or who are breastfeeding, a significant milestone in the fight for women's rights and protections.