1. In 1856, the first permanent settler arrived in what is now the city of Cedar Falls. William Sturgis was a blacksmith from Indiana and established a blacksmith shop and farm on the Cedar River.

2. On June 9, 1912, the deadliest tornado in Iowa's history struck the city of Regina. The tornado killed 17 people and injured over 100 others.

3. In 1928, the Gateway Bridge connecting Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska, opened to traffic. The 2,465-foot-long bridge spans the Missouri River and was the largest highway bridge in the world at the time of its construction.

4. On this day in 1931, the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines was dedicated. The neoclassical-style building was completed after eight years of construction and cost $3.2 million to build.

5. On June 9, 1961, the Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway held its first stock car race. The speedway, located in Des Moines, has been hosting races for over 60 years and is one of the oldest racetracks in the country.