1. On December 25, 1837, Missouri Governor Lilburn Boggs issued the infamous "Extermination Order" which ordered all Mormons to either leave the state or be killed. This order led to the forced removal of thousands of Mormons from Missouri and is still a controversial part of the state's history.

2. In 1865, the first official Christmas holiday was celebrated in Missouri following the end of the Civil War. Many Missourians had lost loved ones during the war and the holiday helped to bring some much-needed joy and hope to the state.

3. On December 25, 1941, just weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a German submarine torpedoed and sank the SS West Notus off the coast of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. This was the only direct attack on Missouri during World War II.

4. In 1982, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways was established in Missouri, making it the first national park area to be designated a national river. The park covers over 80,000 acres of land and rivers in southern Missouri.

5. On December 25, 2015, a massive flooding event began in Missouri that would last for several days and cause extensive damage. The flooding was caused by a series of severe storms that dumped heavy rain on already-saturated ground. The damage totaled over $1 billion and affected thousands of Missourians.