1. In 1851, the first female medical school in the United States, the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, awarded its first degree to a Kentucky native, Ann Preston.

2. On June 17, 1861, during the American Civil War, Union soldiers led by General George H. Thomas defeated Confederate forces at the Battle of Mill Springs in Wayne County, Kentucky. It was the first major Union victory in the Western Theater of the war.

3. In 1927, Kentucky Governor Flem D. Sampson signed a bill making the first Saturday in May the official day for the Kentucky Derby. The iconic horse race had been held annually since 1875 but had not previously had an official state designation.

4. On June 17, 1931, legendary baseball player and Kentucky native, "Satchel" Paige, made his professional debut, pitching for the Chattanooga Black Lookouts in a game against the Nashville Elite Giants. Paige went on to become one of the most talented and successful pitchers in baseball history, despite facing significant racial discrimination throughout his career.

5. In 1942, the U.S. Army established Camp Campbell (now Fort Campbell) in Christian County, Kentucky, as a training and staging area for infantry and armored units during World War II. The base played a significant role in subsequent conflicts, including the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War. Today, it is home to the 101st Airborne Division and the Army's Air Assault School.