1. In 1843, the University of Mississippi was founded in Oxford, Mississippi. The university has since become a staple of higher education in the state and boasts over 23,000 students enrolled.

2. On October 29, 1960, the first televised debate between presidential candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy took place in Chicago, Illinois. The debate would go on to have a significant impact on the outcome of the presidential election and has since become a landmark moment in American political history.

3. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum opened its doors on October 29, 2017. Located in Jackson, Mississippi, the museum tells the story of the state's struggle to achieve racial equality and justice throughout its history.

4. In 1955, Hurricane Hilda made landfall on the Mississippi Gulf Coast on October 29th, causing widespread damage and claiming the lives of 38 people. The hurricane ripped roofs from homes, knocked out power lines, and destroyed crops in its path.

5. On October 29, 1901, a massive fire broke out in downtown Jackson, Mississippi, destroying over 116 buildings and causing an estimated $2.5 million in damages (equivalent to over $70 million today). Despite the devastation, the city quickly rebuilt and revitalized its economy in the years that followed.