1. The first Missouri woman was elected to Congress on March 11, 1922. Jeanette Rankin was from Missoula, Montana, but she represented Missouri's First Congressional District for one term. She is best known for being the first woman elected to Congress overall, and for being the only member of Congress to vote against both World War I and World War II.

2. The deadliest tornado in Missouri history struck on March 11, 1925. Known as the "Tri-State Tornado," it tore through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people and injuring thousands more. It remains the deadliest tornado in U.S. history.

3. On March 11, 1811, the first steamboat made its way up the Missouri River. The New Orleans was owned and operated by Captain Henry Shreve, and it successfully traveled upriver from Mississippi to St. Louis—an impressive feat at the time. Steamboats became a crucial mode of transportation on the Missouri River in the 19th century.

4. One of Missouri's most famous poets was born on March 11, 1912. Langston Hughes was born in Joplin and became a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance movement. His poetry and prose celebrated black culture and challenged America's attitudes toward race, class, and gender.

5. March 11 is celebrated in Missouri as "311 Day." In 1992, the band 311 got its start in Omaha, Nebraska, but two of its members, Nick Hexum and Chad Sexton, grew up in St. Louis. The band's music blends rock, reggae, and rap, and it has a large following in Missouri and beyond. Fans celebrate 311 Day every year on March 11 with concerts and other events.