Here are five interesting facts about July 9 in Missouri history:

1. In 1912, Hannibal, Missouri opened the first Mark Twain Memorial Bridge, which spans the Mississippi River and connects Missouri to Illinois. The bridge was named in honor of Hannibal's famous resident, Mark Twain.

2. In 1923, the Missouri State Capitol building in Jefferson City was damaged by a fire that started in the dome. The damage was extensive, but the building was eventually restored and reopened.

3. In 1968, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson threw his 10th shutout of the season, tying an MLB record. He went on to pitch two more shutouts before the end of the season, setting a new record of 13.

4. In 1993, the Kansas City Royals played in the longest game in franchise history, a 7-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians that lasted 18 innings and took over six hours to complete.

5. In 2015, a severe thunderstorm hit the Ozarks region of Missouri, causing flooding that killed two people and damaged a number of homes and businesses. The storm also knocked out power to thousands of residents.