1. The Oklahoma Land Run of 1891 began on August 31. This was the second land run held in Oklahoma, which opened up the western part of the state for settlement. Thousands of people waited at the starting line for the sound of the cannon to begin the land rush.

2. On August 31, 1896, the town of Bartlesville was founded. Named after Jacob Bartles, who founded the first general store in the area, the town grew into a thriving oil community in the early 1900s.

3. The first football game played by the Oklahoma A&M Aggies (now Oklahoma State University) was on August 31, 1901. The Aggies played against the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman and lost 75-0.

4. The Oklahoma state flag was adopted on August 31, 1925. The design of the flag features a blue background with a buffalo skull and 7 eagle feathers representing the Native American culture in the state.

5. On August 31, 1949, the Oklahoma City Zoo opened to the public. The zoo was founded in 1902 but did not have a permanent location until the current site was established. Today, the Oklahoma City Zoo is home to over 1,800 animals from around the world.