1. In 1872, John W. "Blind" Boone, a pianist and composer known for his ragtime music, was born in Saline County, Missouri. Boone, who lost his sight as an infant, became one of the most successful African American musicians of his time, performing in cities across the United States and Europe.

2. On November 9, 1912, the city of Joplin was hit by a devastating tornado that killed over 150 people and leveled much of the town. The tornado was the deadliest in Missouri history, and remains one of the deadliest in U.S. history.

3. In 1965, construction began on the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. The arch, which was designed by architect Eero Saarinen, is the tallest monument in the United States and has become a symbol of St. Louis and the American West.

4. On November 9, 2004, Missouri citizens approved a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The amendment was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015.

5. In 2018, a statue of Mark Twain was unveiled in Hannibal, Missouri, the boyhood home of the famous author. Twain, who was born Samuel Clemens in Florida, Missouri, is best known for his novels "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."