1. In 1862, the US-Dakota War came to a formal end when 303 Dakota men were executed in Mankato, Minnesota. This remains the largest mass execution in US history.

2. The famous politician, Walter F. Mondale, was born on November 12, 1928, in Ceylon, Minnesota. He served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981.

3. On November 12, 1927, the Holland Tunnel, a vehicular tunnel connecting New Jersey to Manhattan, opened to traffic. A team of Minnesota engineers led the design and construction of the tunnel, which was hailed as a major engineering feat of the time.

4. In 2014, Minnesota Vikings player, Adrian Peterson, was suspended from the NFL after being indicted on charges of child abuse. His suspension was lifted in April of the following year, but he has faced controversy throughout his career.

5. On November 12, 2013, Minneapolis became the first Midwestern city to implement a paid sick leave policy for workers. The ordinance requires employers to provide up to 48 hours of paid sick leave per year to workers, regardless of their employment status. The policy has since been copied by other cities across the country.