1. In 1900, the Great Biloxi Hurricane devastated the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, leaving thousands dead and causing widespread destruction.

2. On September 8, 1874, Hiram Revels became the first African American elected to the United States Senate, representing Mississippi. He served until 1875.

3. On this day in 1869, Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames was removed from office by the U.S. military, following a contested election and violence committed by the Ku Klux Klan.

4. In 1954, the Mississippi State Fair opened for the first time in Jackson, attracting thousands of visitors to the annual event.

5. On September 8, 1962, the University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, admitted its first African American student, James Meredith, amid protests and violence. The presence of federal troops was required to ensure his safety.