1. In 1861, Kansas was admitted to the Union as the 34th state. This event marked the end of a long struggle for statehood, which had been hindered by the fierce debate over slavery and the state's position in the growing national conflict.

2. On January 9, 1889, the first state capitol building in Topeka was destroyed by fire. The blaze consumed the entire structure, including many historical artifacts and records.

3. In 1915, construction began on the world's largest grain elevator in Hutchinson, Kansas. The massive structure boasted a capacity of over 1 million bushels and helped solidify Kansas' position as a key player in the global wheat market.

4. On January 9, 1964, legendary basketball coach Phog Allen passed away in Lawrence, Kansas. Allen is remembered for building one of the most successful college basketball programs in history and is enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

5. In 2010, January 9 was declared "Coach Bill Snyder Day" in the state of Kansas. Snyder was honored for his remarkable success as the head football coach at Kansas State University, where he took over a struggling program in 1989 and transformed it into a perennial contender.