1. In 1867, the Kansas legislature met for the first time in the newly completed capitol building in Topeka. This building still serves as the state capitol today and is a notable landmark in Kansas.

2. On January 8, 1889, the famous "Kansas Cyclone" occurred in the small town of White City. The tornado was one of the deadliest in state history, killing 20 people and causing widespread damage.

3. The first official basketball game played in Kansas was held on January 8, 1898, at the Kansas State Normal School (now Emporia State University). The game was played between students and faculty members and resulted in a score of 7-4 in favor of the students.

4. On January 8, 1912, the Boy Scouts of America was founded in Kansas City, Missouri. This organization quickly spread throughout the country and has since become a widely recognized symbol of American youth.

5. In 1958, Kansas City native Jesse Clyde Nichols received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Nichols was a prominent real estate developer and is credited with helping to transform downtown Kansas City into a thriving business and cultural center.