1. Iowa celebrates Iowa Re-Gifting Day on December 12th each year, encouraging people to recycle unwanted gifts and reduce waste.

2. On December 12th, 1862, the Union Army gained a victory over Confederates at the Battle of Fredericksburg during the American Civil War. Iowa soldiers played a significant role in the battle.

3. On December 12th, 1893, the Iowa State Capitol building was destroyed by a fire. The current capitol building, with its distinctive dome, was opened in 1884.

4. On December 12th, 1901, the Kahl Building in Des Moines, an eight-story office building, was completed. It was one of the first steel-framed buildings in the city.

5. Cedar Rapids, Iowa was hit by a major ice storm on December 12th, 2007. The storm caused widespread power outages and damage, with trees and power lines covered in a thick layer of ice.