1. On December 2, 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's famous expedition reached the mouth of the Gasconade River in modern-day Missouri. This was a significant milestone in their journey to explore and map the newly acquired Louisiana Territory.

2. In 1821, Missouri became the 24th state in the United States on December 2. It was the first state to be carved out of the Louisiana Territory, and it remained the westernmost state in the Union until the addition of Texas in 1845.

3. Missouri's first state capitol building was dedicated on December 2, 1837. Located in the city of Jefferson, it served as the seat of government until 1911 when the current capitol building was completed.

4. On December 2, 1927, the St. Louis Blues Hockey Club was founded. The team joined the National Hockey League in 1967 and has since become one of the most recognizable and successful franchises in the league.

5. The Gateway Arch, one of Missouri's most iconic landmarks, was completed on December 2, 1965. Standing at 630 feet tall, the stainless steel arch is the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere and boasts breathtaking views of the Mississippi River and St. Louis skyline.