1. In 1792, Kentucky became the 15th state to join the Union. The state had been a part of Virginia until it was established as a separate state.

2. On June 1, 1861, Confederate forces overtook the U.S. arsenal at Mount Sterling, Kentucky. This event was a key moment in the Civil War and demonstrated the tensions between the Union and secessionist forces in the state.

3. In 1926, iconic actor Andy Griffith was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Though not a Kentucky native, Griffith spent part of his career performing in the state, including a role as a Kentucky sheriff in the 1960 film "Face in the Crowd."

4. On June 1, 1954, the world's largest pitcher was unveiled in Louisville, Kentucky. The 25-foot tall pitcher was erected as a promotional gimmick for a local restaurant and was later moved to a car dealership before being demolished in the 1960s.

5. In 2009, the Louisville Zoo welcomed a new addition- a baby gorilla named Kindi. Born to mother Kweli and father Mshindi, Kindi was the first gorilla birth at the zoo in 10 years and was a major moment for the zoo's conservation efforts. Today, Kindi is a beloved member of the zoo's gorilla family.