January 26 is an important day in Missouri history, with its impact felt across various fields. From political history to music and arts, here are five interesting facts about January 26 in Missouri history.

1. Missouri debuted its flag on January 26, 1913: Before 1913, Missouri was one of the few states without an official state flag. The State Legislature adopted a design for the state flag on March 22, 1913, but the official flag was first displayed on January 26 of that year. The flag features three red, white, and blue horizontal stripes with the Missouri coat of arms in the center.

2. The 'Father of Missouri Scouting,' W.D. Boyce, was born on January 26: William Dickson Boyce was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 1858. Later in life, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he founded the Lone Scouts of America and the Boy Scouts of America.

3. The Missouri Botanical Garden held its first tea ceremony on January 26, 1912: Known for being one of the world's leading botanical gardens, the Missouri Botanical Garden held its first tea ceremony on this day in 1912. The annual Japanese tea ceremony remains a popular event at the Garden, where visitors can experience traditional Japanese culture.

4. St. Louis native and rock musician Eddie Van Halen was born on January 26, 1955: Eddie Van Halen, the founder of the rock band Van Halen, was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands but grew up in Pasadena, California. He attended high school in Pasadena, where he began playing the guitar and formed his first band. Van Halen passed away on October 6, 2020.

5. Missouri politician Jean Carnahan was sworn in as the first female U.S. senator from Missouri on January 26, 2001: After her husband, Governor Mel Carnahan, died in a plane crash while campaigning for the U.S. Senate, Jean Carnahan replaced him on the ballot and won the election. She served as a U.S. senator from Missouri from January 2001 to November 2002.