1. In 1861, the first Kansas regiment was mustered into the Union Army for the American Civil War. The soldiers were largely recruited from the population of Lawrence, Kansas.

2. In 1887, the Kansas state legislature passed a law establishing Kansas State Normal School (now Emporia State University) in Emporia, Kansas. It was the first state-supported institution of higher education in Kansas.

3. In 1911, the first ever intercollegiate basketball game in Kansas was played between the University of Kansas and Baker University in Lawrence, Kansas. KU won the game 22-9.

4. In 1981, the celebrated author William S. Burroughs moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where he lived for the remainder of his life. Burroughs was known for his contributions to the Beat Generation literary movement.

5. In 2007, the Kansas City Chiefs announced the hiring of Herm Edwards as their head coach. Edwards had previously coached the New York Jets and was known for his motivational speeches, including his famous quote "You play to win the game."