1. In 1953, the Mississippi State Penitentiary, also known as Parchman Farm, was the site of one of the deadliest prison riots in U.S. history. The riot began on July 26 and lasted for three days, resulting in the deaths of 31 inmates and one guard.

2. On July 26, 1966, civil rights activist James Meredith was shot while on a solitary march across Mississippi to promote voter registration among African Americans. The shooting sparked a wave of violence and hatred throughout the state, highlighting the ongoing struggle for civil rights.

3. In 1930, the world-famous blues musician Robert Johnson was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. Johnson's haunting, soulful music has influenced countless artists over the decades and helped to define the genre of Mississippi Delta blues.

4. On July 26, 1810, the Mississippi Territory was officially formed by the U.S. federal government. The territory encompassed much of the southern United States, including parts of today's Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana.

5. In 1916, The Great Mississippi Flood of 1916 began on July 26, lasting for several weeks and causing widespread devastation throughout the Mississippi River Valley. The flood affected nearly 200,000 square miles and resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.