1. On December 22, 1851, the United States government signed the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux with the Sioux Nation. This agreement ceded millions of acres of land in southern Minnesota from the native tribes to the U.S., paving the way for the state's settlement.

2. In 1861, the Minnesota State Capitol building was destroyed by fire on December 22. This tragic event prompted the state to construct a new Capitol building, which was completed in 1905 and still stands today.

3. On December 22, 1980, the city of Duluth experienced one of its worst blizzards in history. With winds reaching up to 84 mph and snow accumulations of up to 36 inches, the storm caused massive power outages and led to widespread destruction of homes and businesses.

4. December 22, 1994 marked the opening of the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. At the time, it was the largest shopping center in the world, covering 4.2 million square feet and featuring over 520 stores.

5. Finally, on December 22, 2012, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport set a new record for the number of passengers served in a single year, with over 33.1 million travelers passing through its gates. This impressive feat solidified MSP's reputation as a major hub for air travel in the United States.