Here are 5 interesting facts about March 24 in Kansas history:

1. In 1863, the First Kansas Colored Infantry fought in the Battle of Island Mound in Vernon County, Missouri. This was one of the first battles where African American soldiers were engaged in combat during the Civil War.

2. In 1880, Abbie Bright became the first woman to graduate from the University of Kansas School of Law. She went on to become the first female lawyer in the state of Kansas.

3. In 1913, the Kansas State Legislature passed the Kansas Workmen's Compensation Act. This law provided benefits for workers who were injured on the job, and it became a model for similar laws across the country.

4. In 1962, the University of Kansas Jayhawks won their first NCAA men's basketball championship under head coach Forrest "Phog" Allen. The Jayhawks defeated the University of Cincinnati Bearcats 71- 53 in the championship game.

5. In 1988, a tornado outbreak struck parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Over 60 tornadoes were reported, including one that hit the town of Hesston, Kansas. The Hesston tornado caused extensive damage but no fatalities.