1. In 1850, the first Mormon pioneer wagon train reached the Salt Lake Valley after traveling more than 1,000 miles from Council Bluffs, Iowa. Brigham Young arrived in the valley a few days later.

2. In 1899, Utah became the 45th state to join the United States of America. The state had been a territory for more than 50 years before achieving statehood.

3. In 1922, the original Salt Palace convention center opened in Salt Lake City. It was a popular venue for concerts, sporting events, and conventions until it was demolished in 1994.

4. In 1974, a tornado struck the town of Morgan, Utah, causing significant damage to homes and buildings. The tornado was rated F2 on the Fujita scale, with winds reaching up to 113 mph.

5. In 2013, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a new policy that prohibited baptisms for children of same-sex couples until they reached the age of 18. The policy was controversial and was eventually reversed in 2019.