1. Statehood Day - September 4, 1861, marks the day when Kansas became the 34th state of the United States.
2. Battle of Lexington - On September 4, 1861, the Battle of Lexington occurred during the Civil War. Confederate forces captured the town for a short time before Union troops regained control.
3. Boeing Airplane Company founded - William Boeing founded the Boeing Airplane Company on September 4, 1916, in Seattle. The company played a significant role in the aviation industry and has its presence in Wichita, Kansas.
4. Truman Commission - On September 4, 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the National Defense Research Committee (NDRC), also known as the Truman Commission, to mobilize American industries for World War II. Harry S. Truman, the future President of the United States, headed the commission.
5. Gold Medalist Born - On September 4, 1899, Glenn Cunningham, an American middle-distance runner, was born in Atlanta, Kansas. Cunningham won a gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics in the 1500-meter race and broke numerous world records in his career.