1. In 1786, George Rogers Clark, a renowned American pioneer and soldier, returned to Louisville after a seven-year absence. Clark was suffering from poor health and seeking rest and relaxation in his home city.

2. On October 17, 1887, the Louisville Southern Railroad opened a new line connecting the towns of Glasgow and Bowling Green, Kentucky. The new connection provided important transportation links between southern and central Kentucky.

3. In 1917, the USS Kentucky, a battleship in the U.S. Navy, was commissioned. The Kentucky was named after the state, and saw action in both World War I and World War II before being decommissioned in 1947.

4. On October 17, 1931, the Franklin County Courthouse in Frankfort, Kentucky was destroyed by a fire. The fire, which broke out in the middle of the night, caused over $300,000 in damages and destroyed important government records.

5. In 1969, the Kentucky State Fair Convention Center opened in Louisville. The venue has since hosted a wide range of events, from conventions and trade shows to concerts and sporting tournaments.