1. On December 29, 1847, the United States officially recognized the state of Minnesota as the 32nd state in the nation. Prior to this, the area had been a territory controlled by various Native American tribes and later governed by France and Great Britain.

2. In 1896, the University of Minnesota won its first football game against the Hamline University team by a score of 6-0. This marked the beginning of a long-standing rivalry between the two schools and helped establish the University of Minnesota as a major sports powerhouse.

3. On December 29, 1931, the iconic Foshay Tower in Minneapolis was completed. At the time, the 447-foot structure was the tallest building in the city and remained so until the construction of the IDS Tower in 1972.

4. In 1970, the Minnesota Vikings played their first playoff game, defeating the Detroit Lions 10-7. Despite losing the following week to the San Francisco 49ers, the 1970 season marked a major turning point for the Vikings as they became one of the most successful franchises in NFL history.

5. On December 29, 1997, the Minnesota Lynx were officially announced as the WNBA's newest expansion team. Since their inaugural season in 1999, the Lynx have become one of the most successful women's basketball teams in the world, winning four championships and producing several All-Star players.