1. In 1898, the city of Duluth officially opened its new sewage system, which was the first of its kind in the United States. The system drew water from Lake Superior, treated it, and then released it back into the lake. The new system greatly improved public health and sanitation in the city.

2. On November 8, 1904, Minnesota voters elected John A. Johnson as governor. Johnson was the first governor in the United States to be elected from the Farmer-Labor Party, which he helped to found. He served two terms as governor and was known for his progressive policies.

3. In 1923, the Minnesota Vikings football team played their first game. The team, which was later renamed the Minnesota Golden Gophers, played against the University of Nebraska and won 10-0. The Vikings/Golden Gophers have gone on to become one of the most successful college football programs in the country.

4. On November 8, 1960, Minnesota native and future Vice President Walter Mondale was elected as attorney general of Minnesota. Mondale went on to serve as a U.S. senator and vice president under Jimmy Carter.

5. In 1978, Minnesota passed the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act, which banned smoking in all public buildings in the state. The law was one of the first of its kind in the country and helped to reduce the prevalence of smoking in Minnesota. Today, Minnesota has one of the lowest smoking rates in the United States.