1. The first known tornado in Kansas history was recorded on August 8, 1854. The tornado touched down near the Kansas-Nebraska border before moving north into Nebraska. There were no reported deaths or injuries.

2. In 1924, the iconic Wild West showman Buffalo Bill Cody died in Denver, Colorado, just across the border from Kansas. Cody had a strong connection to Kansas, having spent several years there as a buffalo hunter and scout in the 1860s.

3. August 8, 1930, marked the opening of the Midland Theatre in Coffeyville, Kansas. The art deco venue, which featured movies and live performances, was a beloved local landmark until its closure in 1980. Today, the Midland is undergoing a restoration to its former glory.

4. On August 8, 1956, the city of Wichita officially opened the Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center. The massive facility includes a concert hall, convention center, exhibition hall, and other event spaces, and hosts hundreds of events each year.

5. August 8, 1986, was a historic day for the state of Kansas, as Governor John Carlin signed the Mid-America Nuclear Power Plant Agreement. The agreement, between Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, aimed to build a nuclear power plant in southwest Missouri. However, the project faced intense opposition and was ultimately cancelled in the late 1980s.