1. On December 10, 1838, the state of Iowa was officially founded and became the 29th state in the United States. The state's capital, Des Moines, was not chosen until 1857.

2. On December 10, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Eleanor Roosevelt, an Iowa native, played a pivotal role in drafting the document.

3. On December 10, 1976, a major blizzard hit Iowa, causing widespread power outages and leaving some areas with up to 19 inches of snow. The storm lasted for three days and led to numerous school and business closures.

4. On December 10, 1983, the Iowa Hawkeyes football team won its first Big Ten championship in 27 years, defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes in the conference championship game. The Hawkeyes went on to play in the Rose Bowl for the first time in 23 years.

5. On December 10, 1991, Iowa Senator Tom Harkin announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States. Harkin, who served in the Senate from 1985 to 2015, ultimately withdrew from the race before the Iowa caucus.