1. Kentucky became a state: On May 4, 1792, Kentucky was officially admitted as the 15th state in the United States. The state was initially a part of Virginia before becoming a state of its own.

2. The Battle of Paducah: During the Civil War, a skirmish known as the Battle of Paducah took place on May 4, 1864, in western Kentucky. Union soldiers managed to repel a surprise attack by Confederate troops.

3. The Kentucky Derby: The first Kentucky Derby was held on May 17, 1875, but the prep races leading up to the event take place in May. Horse racing has a long history in Kentucky, and the Derby is the most famous of them all.

4. Great Flood of 1937: On May 4, 1937, a severe flood hit the Ohio River Valley, including parts of Kentucky. Thousands of homes were destroyed, and more than one million people were affected by the disaster. It remains one of the most devastating floods in American history.

5. Wendell Ford's birthday: Wendell H. Ford, a former governor and U.S. senator from Kentucky, was born on May 8, 1924. He was a prominent political figure in the state and served in the U.S. Senate for nearly 25 years.