1. In 1846, Iowa became the 29th state to be admitted to the Union. It was named after the Iowa River, which was named after the Ioway people who inhabited the area.

2. In 1913, the Iowa State Capitol building was completed after 14 years of construction. The building is 275 feet tall and features a 23-karat gold dome.

3. On December 30, 1967, the first issue of The Eastern Iowa Gazette was published. The newspaper served Cedar Rapids and the surrounding area until it ceased publication in 2009.

4. In 1983, Iowa State University football player Dave Waymire set a Fiesta Bowl record by kicking four field goals in a game against the University of Miami. The Cyclones ultimately lost the game 31-30.

5. On December 30, 2010, Iowa Governor Chet Culver announced that the state's last two coal-fired power plants would be shut down by 2015. The decision was made in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy sources.