1. On March 18, 1806, the Lewis and Clark Expedition reached the region of present-day Kansas City, Missouri. They camped near the mouth of the Kansas River, where they met with local Native American tribes and gathered important data on the geography, flora, and fauna of the area.

2. On March 18, 1837, the Missouri General Assembly passed a law establishing the first public school system in the state. This was a significant milestone in Missouri's history, as it helped to promote education and literacy among the general population.

3. On March 18, 1861, a tumultuous political convention was held in St. Louis, Missouri, to decide whether the state would secede from the Union and join the Confederacy. Despite intense pressure and threats from pro-Confederate forces, the convention ultimately voted to remain in the Union.

4. On March 18, 1870, Hiram Revels was sworn in as the first African American member of the United States Senate. Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Revels had moved to Missouri in the 1850s and served as a preacher and schoolteacher before entering politics.

5. On March 18, 1937, a massive tornado swept through the small town of Annapolis, Missouri, killing 13 people and destroying most of the town's buildings. This tragic event remains one of the deadliest tornadoes in Missouri's history, and it served as a stark reminder of the need for better meteorological forecasting and preparedness.