1. On February 18, 1865, Iowans celebrated the state's admission to the Union with the first state-wide celebration in history. The festivities included a procession with floats and a grand ball at the state capitol building.

2. In 1879, the first electric streetcar in Iowa began service in Des Moines on February 18. The Des Moines City Railway Company operated the streetcar, which carried passengers for a fare of 5 cents.

3. On February 18, 1890, John Mercer Langston, the first African-American elected to public office in the United States, delivered a speech in the Iowa House Chamber. Langston served as U.S. minister to Haiti and was a pioneer of the civil rights movement.

4. The Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines were established on February 18, 1904. The fairgrounds have hosted the annual Iowa State Fair since 1911 and are one of the state's most popular tourist attractions.

5. On February 18, 1957, the University of Iowa became the first institution in the world to offer a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing. The program has attracted world-renowned authors such as Flannery O'Connor, Raymond Carver, and Marilynne Robinson.