1. On September 24, 1862, during the Civil War, Confederate forces under General Braxton Bragg launched a surprise attack on Union troops at the Battle of Perryville in central Kentucky. The battle resulted in a Union victory and was considered one of the bloodiest in the state's history.

2. On September 24, 1955, Mammoth Cave National Park was officially dedicated in Kentucky. The park is home to the world's longest known cave system, with over 400 miles of explored passageways.

3. Kentucky Bourbon Festival, an annual event celebrating the state's signature spirit, typically kicks off on the 3rd or 4th Friday. The festival features tastings, tours, and other activities related to bourbon production.

4. Martha Lane Collins became the first female governor of Kentucky on September 24, 1983. She served from 1983 to 1987 and was credited with expanding the state's economy and improving its education system.

5. On September 24, 1924, the powerful Belle of Louisville riverboat was launched on the Ohio River. The steamboat is now recognized as the oldest operating Mississippi-style sternwheeler in the world and is a popular tourist attraction in Kentucky.