Below are five interesting facts about October 8 in Iowa history:

1. On October 8, 1862, the Battle of Perryville took place during the American Civil War. Iowa soldiers were among the Union troops who fought against Confederate forces in what is considered one of the deadliest battles in Kentucky.

2. In 1871, notorious outlaw Jesse James and his gang robbed the Bank of Corydon in Corydon, Iowa, on October 8. This was one of the many daring holdups committed by James and his gang during their infamous crime spree.

3. On October 8, 1910, the town of Akron, Iowa, was devastated by a tornado that left 47 people dead and over 200 injured. This was one of the deadliest tornadoes in Iowa history and prompted the development of better warning systems and disaster preparedness.

4. In 1963, October 8 marked the opening of the Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway in Des Moines. The asphalt racetrack hosted many racing events throughout the years, but closed in 2015 due to declining attendance and financial losses.

5. On October 8, 2018, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced the discovery of a rare fossil of a giant prehistoric bird in eastern Iowa. The bird, called the Pelagornis Sandersi, had a wingspan of up to 24 feet and lived around 25 million years ago. The fossil was found during a routine bridge inspection near the town of Hills.