1. On April 8, 1935, the Works Progress Administration opened the Mark Twain State Park in Monroe County, Missouri. The park was named after the famous American author who spent much of his early life in Missouri.

2. In 1954, the Missouri state legislature designated April 8 as "Mizzou Day" to celebrate the University of Missouri. The day is marked by special events and festivities across the state.

3. On April 8, 1974, a devastating tornado outbreak struck the Midwest, including the state of Missouri. The outbreak killed 36 people in Missouri alone and caused millions of dollars in damage.

4. In 2004, the Missouri state legislature passed a bill designating the Ozark hellbender as the official state endangered species. The species is a large salamander native to the Ozark mountains of Missouri and neighboring states.

5. On April 8, 2011, two tornadoes struck the city of St. Louis, causing extensive damage and injuring several people. The storms were part of a larger outbreak that affected several states in the region.