1. Mississippi became the 20th state on April 2, 1817. The state was admitted to the Union after officially separating from its neighboring territory, Alabama.

2. Civil War General and first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, Nathan Bedford Forrest, surrendered to Union Army forces on April 2, 1865, effectively ending the Confederate victory in Mississippi.

3. On April 2, 1909, blues legend Robert Johnson was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. His innovative guitar playing and soulful lyrics deeply influenced the genre and later generations of musicians, including the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton.

4. Mississippi-born astronaut Fred Haise notably piloted the Apollo 13 mission, which experienced an explosion in space on April 13, 1970. Haise's quick thinking and expertise helped save himself and his fellow astronauts from certain death.

5. April 2 is commemorated in Mississippi as National Autism Awareness Day. First recognized by Governor Phil Bryant in 2013, the day aims to raise awareness and acceptance of individuals with autism in communities throughout the state.