1. On February 23, 1865, Kentucky ratified the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude. The vote was close, with 71 in favor and 26 opposed.

2. In 1937, the Ohio River flooded, causing widespread destruction throughout Kentucky and other states. The flood was caused by heavy rains and snowmelt, and resulted in the deaths of over 100 people in Kentucky alone.

3. On February 23, 1779, George Rogers Clark led his men to victory over the British at the Battle of Vincennes, securing the Illinois Territory for the Americans during the Revolutionary War. Clark was born in Virginia but spent much of his life in Kentucky and is considered a hero of the state.

4. In 1981, the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled that the state's sodomy laws could not be used to prosecute consenting adults in private. This decision was a major victory for LGBTQ+ rights in Kentucky and helped pave the way for further progress in the state.

5. On February 23, 1963, Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) defeated Sonny Liston in a major upset to become the world heavyweight boxing champion for the first time. Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky and is considered one of the greatest athletes of all time.