1. Kentucky Becomes the 15th State: On April 6, 1792, Kentucky officially became the 15th state of the Union. It was the first state west of the Appalachian Mountains to gain statehood.

2. State Dinner for Queen Elizabeth II: The first-ever state dinner in Kentucky was held on April 6, 1984, in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to the state. The dinner was held at the Kentucky Horse Park and included Kentucky’s famous bourbon and bluegrass music.

3. Mammoth Cave Discovered: On April 6, 1809, Mammoth Cave was discovered by a hunter named John Houchin. The cave is the longest known cave system in the world, with over 400 miles of explored passages.

4. Civil Rights Movement: April 6, 1968, marked the day of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral procession through Kentucky. Thousands of mourners lined the streets to pay their respects to the civil rights leader who was assassinated just days earlier in Memphis, Tennessee.

5. Great Flood of 1977: On April 6, 1977, the Great Flood of 1977 started in Kentucky. It was the worst flood in the state’s history, causing over $1 billion in damages and displacing thousands of people. The flood was caused by a combination of heavy rainfall and melting snow.