1. On May 6, 1837, the state legislature authorized the construction of a railroad connecting St. Louis to the Missouri River. The resulting St. Louis, Missouri and Vandalia Railroad was the first railroad chartered in Missouri and was an important step in the state's transportation history.

2. In 1875, on May 6th, construction began on the Eads Bridge in St. Louis. Completed in 1874, this iconic bridge was the first to span the Mississippi River, revolutionizing transportation and trade across the region.

3. On May 6, 1904, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (also known as the St. Louis World's Fair) opened in Forest Park. It was an international showcase of culture, industry, and technology, and attracted millions of visitors over its seven-month run.

4. In 1947, on May 6, President Harry S. Truman arrived in Fulton, Missouri to deliver his famous "Truman Doctrine" speech. In it, he outlined a new policy of containment towards Soviet aggression and committed the United States to support any nation threatened by Communism.

5. On May 6, 1954, Missouri's Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of segregation in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education. The decision was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1955, marking a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.