1. Brown v. Board of Education: On May 4, 1954, the United States Supreme Court issued a historic ruling in the case of Brown v. Board of Education, declaring segregated schools unconstitutional. The case originated in Topeka, Kansas when a group of parents sued the local school board for denying their children admission to a white school. The ruling marked a major turning point in the civil rights movement and helped pave the way for desegregation nationwide.

2. Twister Outbreak: On May 4, 2007, a massive tornado outbreak struck parts of Kansas and Oklahoma, generating multiple tornadoes and causing widespread damage. The storms killed 14 people and injured hundreds of others, leaving many communities devastated. It was one of the most destructive tornado outbreaks in U.S. history.

3. Kansas Becomes a State: On May 4, 1861, Kansas was admitted to the Union as the 34th state. The state had been a battleground for years during the pre-civil war era, with pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups clashing over the territory's status. After the war, Kansas emerged as a leading agricultural state and a key player in the nation's breadbasket.

4. Amelia Earhart's Birthplace: On May 4, 1897, famed aviator Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas. Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and set numerous aviation records before disappearing over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 during an attempted round-the-world flight. The Amelia Earhart Festival is held annually in Atchison to honor her legacy.

5. John Brown's Raid: On May 4, 1856, abolitionist John Brown led a small group of men in a raid on pro-slavery settlers in the town of Franklin, Kansas. The attack was in retaliation for an earlier raid on the free-state town of Lawrence by pro-slavery forces. The incident is considered a precursor to the violence and bloodshed that would occur during Bleeding Kansas, a period of conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces prior to the Civil War.