1. On March 8, 1864, General Ulysses S. Grant appointed Major General William T. Sherman as commander of the Department of the Mississippi, including the state of Kentucky. This appointment was a significant turning point in the Civil War, as Sherman went on to lead the Union army's march through Georgia and the Carolinas, ultimately contributing to the Confederacy's defeat.

2. March 8, 1895, marked the founding of the Kentucky Association of Colored Women's Clubs, one of the state's oldest and most influential organizations for African American women. The group's founders sought to address issues such as racism and discrimination, while also promoting education and community development.

3. In 1921, the Kentucky state legislature passed a law designating the Goldenrod as the state flower. This decision was controversial, as some lawmakers argued that the flower was too common and lacked the exotic charm of other flowers. Nonetheless, the Goldenrod remains Kentucky's official state flower to this day.

4. On March 8, 1936, legendary Kentucky Derby-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas was born in Antigo, Wisconsin. Over the course of his storied career, Lukas trained 14 horses who won Triple Crown races, including four Kentucky Derby winners.

5. Finally, on March 8, 2007, Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher signed a bill that made English the official language of the state. Although the law was primarily symbolic, it reflected a growing national debate about language and cultural identity in the United States.