1. Missouri was admitted as the 24th state of the United States on July 2, 1821. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Missouri became part of the Missouri Territory in 1812 and later achieved statehood on this day exactly 9 years after the Louisiana Purchase was completed.

2. The Battle of Carthage, also known as the Battle of Dry Fork, took place on July 2, 1861, during the American Civil War. It was the first full-scale land battle fought west of the Mississippi River and resulted in a victory for the Confederates.

3. On July 2, 1900, the Ozark National Forest was established in Arkansas, including portions extending into Missouri. The forest covers over 1.2 million acres and features rugged mountainous terrain, pristine streams, and diverse wildlife.

4. Robert Pershing Wadlow, who is recognized as the tallest person in recorded history, was born in Alton, Illinois, just across the Mississippi River from Missouri, on July 2, 1918. Wadlow stood 8 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 490 pounds at the time of his death in 1940.

5. The Gateway Arch, a 630-foot tall monument symbolizing Missouri's role as the "Gateway to the West," was completed on July 2, 1965. Located in St. Louis, the Arch is the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere and attracts millions of visitors each year.