1. The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed on September 27, 1854. This controversial act allowed the citizens of these two territories to decide whether they would become free or slave states. The act is considered a major cause of the American Civil War.

2. On September 27, 1915, Kansas Governor William Hodges announced the creation of the first state highway system in the United States. The system would eventually include over 11,000 miles of roads and was a key component in the growth and development of the state.

3. The deadliest tornado in Kansas history occurred on September 27, 1897, in the town of Elmwood. The tornado killed 18 people and destroyed much of the town. The tragedy prompted improvements in weather forecasting and preparedness in the state.

4. On September 27, 1969, KU student Jan Stephenson won the United States Golf Association Women's Amateur Championship. She went on to have a successful career as a professional golfer, winning 16 tournaments, including 3 major championships.

5. The famous aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas, on September 27, 1897. Earhart set many records and made history as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Her disappearance during a flight over the Pacific in 1937 remains one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries.