Missouri Joins the Union, Mount Rushmore Dedication and a Historic Supreme Court Appointment
August 10 has been the date of several significant moments in American history, from the admission of a new state to important milestones in government and civil rights.
Missouri becomes the 24th state — 1821
On August 10, 1821, Missouri officially entered the Union as the nation’s 24th state. Its admission was closely tied to the growing national debate over slavery and led to the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which admitted Missouri as a slave state while Maine entered as a free state.
The issue of Missouri’s statehood demonstrated how deeply divided the United States had become over slavery—a conflict that would eventually contribute to the Civil War.
Mount Rushmore receives its dedication — 1927
On August 10, 1927, President Calvin Coolidge traveled to South Dakota to participate in ceremonies dedicating Mount Rushmore. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum was presented with a set of steel drill bits during the event, which took place before the carving of the monumental presidential faces began.
The monument eventually depicted George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln and became one of America’s best-known landmarks.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is sworn in — 1993
On August 10, 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn in as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. President Bill Clinton had nominated her earlier that year, and the Senate confirmed her by a vote of 96-3.
Ginsburg would serve on the Supreme Court for more than 27 years, becoming one of the court’s most prominent and influential justices.
A devastating derecho strikes the Midwest — 2020
August 10, 2020, brought one of the most destructive thunderstorm events in U.S. history when a powerful derecho swept across portions of the Midwest. The storm caused four deaths and approximately $11 billion in damage, making it the costliest thunderstorm in U.S. history at the time.
Did You Know?
Missouri’s admission to the Union on August 10, 1821, is why August 10 is celebrated as Missouri’s statehood anniversary. The state’s nickname, the “Show Me State,” reflects a long-standing reputation for skepticism and practicality.
