1. In 1947, Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, was honored with a day-long celebration in his hometown of West Branch, Iowa, on August 19. Hoover, who was born in 1874 in Iowa, served as president from 1929 to 1933.

2. On August 19, 1848, Iowa became the 29th state to enter the Union. The state's name comes from the Native American tribe the Ioway, which means "sleepy ones."

3. In 1863, the U.S. government established the Sully Indian Agency on the Des Moines River in present-day Warren County. The agency was responsible for overseeing relations between the government and various Native American tribes, including the Sauk, Meskwaki, and Potawatomi.

4. On August 19, 1956, the first United States postage stamps commemorating a state fair were issued. The stamps featured scenes from the Iowa State Fair, which is held annually in Des Moines.

5. On August 19, 1999, a tornado touched down in the town of Spencer, Iowa, causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, and other structures. The tornado was rated as an F3 on the Fujita scale, with wind speeds of up to 206 miles per hour. Despite the severity of the storm, no deaths were reported.