1. In 1792, Kentucky became the 15th state to join the United States. After years of controversy between settlers and Native Americans, the state finally gained its independence and became a part of the new nation.

2. The Battle of Perryville, also known as the Battle of Chaplin Hills, took place on October 8, 1862, near Perryville, Kentucky. This was one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War, with over 7,600 casualties.

3. The Kentucky Derby, one of the most famous horse races in the world, was first held on May 17, 1875. It has been held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May since 1875.

4. On October 1, 1955, the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant opened in Salt Lake City, Utah. The founders, Harland Sanders and Pete Harman, quickly expanded their chain, and the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Kentucky opened in 1958.

5. On October 1, 1992, the United States Mint released a commemorative quarter for Kentucky as a part of the 50 State Quarters Program. The quarter features the image of a thoroughbred racehorse and a Commonwealth of Kentucky seal.