1. On July 26, 1815, George W. Johnson was born in Scott County, Kentucky. He went on to become the state's 36th governor from 1861 to 1865, during the Civil War.

2. On July 26, 1926, the town of St. Matthews, Kentucky was officially incorporated. It was originally settled in the 1700s and is now a bustling suburb of Louisville.

3. On July 26, 1947, Kentucky native and future baseball player and manager, Pee Wee Reese, hit his first career grand slam while playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

4. On July 26, 1971, the Ohio River in northern Kentucky reached its highest level on record, causing widespread flooding and over $50 million in damage.

5. On July 26, 1996, the Summer Olympics began in Atlanta, Georgia. Several athletes from Kentucky, including sprinter Tim Harden and basketball player Antoine Walker, represented the United States in the games.