1. In 1861, Iowa's Governor Samuel Kirkwood delivered a speech in favor of the Union cause during a joint session of the Iowa Legislature. He emphasized the state's loyalty to the Union and its determination to help quell the rebellion.

2. In 1901, Iowa State College (now Iowa State University) established a Department of Forestry, which was the first of its kind in the United States. The department's focus was on research, education, and practical application of forestry practices.

3. In 1964, a powerful winter storm swept across Iowa, dumping over a foot of snow in some areas and causing widespread power outages. The storm was one of the worst in the state's history, and many schools and businesses were closed for several days.

4. In 1991, the Iowa Hawkeyes football team won its first-ever Big Ten championship, finishing the season with a record of 10-1-1. The team went on to play in the Rose Bowl, where they lost to the Washington Huskies.

5. In 2013, a meteorite fell to Earth and landed near the town of Grinnell, Iowa. The meteorite was estimated to be about the size of a softball and weighed approximately half a pound. It was the first time in nearly 30 years that a meteorite had been found in Iowa.