1. In 1861, Confederate forces under General Sterling Price captured the town of Lexington, Missouri, in what was known as the Battle of the Hemp Bales. This battle had significant impact on Kansas, as it led to the increased recruitment of Union soldiers from the state.

2. In 1875, notorious outlaw Jesse James and his gang robbed the First National Bank in Northfield, Minnesota. While the robbery did not take place in Kansas, it had ties to the state, as several members of James' gang were originally from Kansas and had committed numerous crimes in the state.

3. In 1924, the University of Kansas basketball team played its first game in Allen Fieldhouse, the iconic basketball arena that has since become synonymous with KU basketball. The game was against Washburn University and was won 42-24 by KU.

4. In 1951, the Kansas Turnpike opened to traffic, providing a faster and more convenient route for drivers traveling across the state. Today, the turnpike stretches 236 miles from the Oklahoma border to the Missouri border.

5. In 2017, a shooter opened fire at Excel Industries, a manufacturing plant in Hesston, Kansas, killing three people and injuring 14 others. The incident was one of several mass shootings that have occurred in the state in recent years, leading to increased debate and discussion about gun control and mental health issues.