1. Kansas was officially established as a territory on January 26, 1854, when President Franklin Pierce signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The act allowed for the creation of two new territories out of the remaining unorganized land in the Western United States.

2. On January 26, 1861, Kansas was admitted as the 34th state in the Union. This happened during the lead-up to the Civil War, and Kansas was seen as a critical battleground state due to its stance on abolitionism.

3. In 1925, January 26 marked the first flight of a fixed-wing aircraft in Kansas. Albert Lodwick flew a Curtiss JN-4D Jenny airplane in Wichita, marking the beginning of the state's aviation industry.

4. On January 26, 1971, the deadliest tornado in Kansas history struck the town of Wakita, killing two people and devastating much of the area. The tornado was part of a larger outbreak that caused extensive damage across the Midwest.

5. In 1992, Lawrence, Kansas, celebrated its sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) on January 26 with a large parade, historic reenactments, and other festivities. The city was founded in 1854, the same year that Kansas Territory was established.