1. In 1903, the construction of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis began on October 31. This iconic symbol of Missouri and the United States was completed and dedicated in 1965.

2. On October 31, 1931, the Bagnell Dam was completed, creating the Lake of the Ozarks. The lake covers 54,000 acres and has more than 1,150 miles of shoreline, making it a popular vacation destination.

3. In 1864, during the Civil War, a battle known as the Battle of Newtonia took place in Newton County, Missouri on October 31. Confederate forces attempted to capture the town but were ultimately defeated by Union troops.

4. The USS Missouri, the famous battleship that was the site of the Japanese surrender in World War II, was commissioned on October 31, 1944. The ship was named after the state of Missouri and served in several conflicts before being decommissioned in 1992.

5. On October 31, 1968, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson threw a complete game shutout in Game 1 of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. The Cardinals would go on to win the series in seven games, giving the city its second World Series title in four years.