1. In 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad was completed in Utah, connecting the East and West coasts of the United States for the first time. Promontory Summit, Utah was the site of the final spike ceremony.

2. The University of Utah was established on May 11, 1850, as the University of Deseret. It was the first university in the state and was originally located in Salt Lake City.

3. The first non-Mormon governor of Utah, Simon Bamberger, was inaugurated on May 11, 1917. He served until 1921 and was known for his efforts to modernize the state's infrastructure.

4. The Bonneville Salt Flats, located in western Utah, were first used for land speed record attempts on May 11, 1914. American racer Teddy Tetzlaff set a new record of 141.73 mph in his Blitzen Benz car.

5. On May 11, 1930, the first Busch Gardens amusement park opened in Pasadena, California. This is interesting because the Busch family, who founded the popular beer company, later opened a Busch Gardens theme park in Williamsburg, Virginia that includes a replica of Utah's Pioneer Village.