1. On September 30, 1809, Meriwether Lewis, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, died under mysterious circumstances in Tennessee. Although he was not in Missouri at the time, Lewis spent a significant amount of time in the state during his exploration of the Louisiana Purchase.

2. In 1821, September 30 marked the day Missouri officially became the 24th state to join the Union. Initially part of the Louisiana Territory, Missouri played a key role in the westward expansion of the United States.

3. On September 30, 1850, Jefferson City, Missouri was officially designated as the state capital. For several years prior, the capital had been moved between a few different cities before finally settling on Jefferson City.

4. In 1864, Confederate General Sterling Price led an unsuccessful raid into Missouri, culminating in the Battle of Westport on September 30. The battle was one of the largest fought west of the Mississippi River, and resulted in a Union victory.

5. September 30, 1902 marked the birth of Chuck Berry, a legendary rock and roll musician from St. Louis, Missouri. Known for hits such as "Johnny B. Goode" and "Roll Over Beethoven," Berry has been widely credited as a major influence on the genre of rock and roll.