1. In 1861, the Kansas Senate passed a bill to create the University of Kansas, which opened its doors in 1866. Today, the University of Kansas is a major institution of higher education, consisting of several campuses across the state.

2. On March 19, 1918, famed Kansas City jazz musician Count Basie was born. Basie became one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century, and his music continues to be celebrated today.

3. In 1936, the Kansas State Wildcats won their first-ever NCAA basketball championship. The team, coached by Hall of Famer Jack Gardner, went on to win four more NCAA titles in the next 30 years.

4. March 19 is also the birthday of Kansas native Fred Harvey, who revolutionized the hospitality industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Harvey's chain of restaurants and hotels along the Santa Fe Railway line catered to tourists and helped to establish the American West as a travel destination.

5. Finally, on March 19, 1945, Kansas City native Walter Cronkite was part of a CBS News team that broadcast live from the Battle of Iwo Jima. Cronkite's reporting from the front lines helped to shape the way Americans viewed World War II, and he went on to become one of the most respected journalists in history.