1. In 1950, a devastating fire broke out at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Marshalltown, Iowa, destroying the historic building. The fire was believed to have been caused by faulty wiring in the church's basement.

2. On December 22, 1854, the first train arrived in Des Moines, Iowa, marking the beginning of the city's growth as a major transportation hub.

3. In 1846, Iowa became the 29th state to join the Union. The state's name comes from the Native American tribe of the same name, which means "drowsy ones."

4. On December 22, 1862, the Union Army under General William T. Sherman captured the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, one of the Confederacy's most important strongholds, during the American Civil War.

5. In 1937, the city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa was hit by a devastating flood that caused extensive damage and forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. The flood, which was caused by heavy rainfall and snowmelt, is still considered one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the state.