1. In 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th state of the United States on February 18th. Wisconsin was created out of the Wisconsin Territory, which had been established in 1836. The state nickname is the Badger State, and the state bird is the American Robin.

2. On February 18, 1943, in the midst of World War II, the War Production Board approved the construction of a steel plant in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The plant was built in record time and supplied steel for the war effort, producing more than a million tons of steel per year.

3. In 1957, a major snowstorm hit Wisconsin on February 18th and 19th. The storm dumped up to 20 inches of snow in some areas, causing widespread power outages and travel disruptions. The storm was one of the worst to hit Wisconsin in the 20th century.

4. On February 18, 1960, the first cellular phone system was introduced in Wisconsin by Bell Labs. The system allowed for the first time mobile phone calls to be made from a moving vehicle, and was the precursor to the modern cell phone network.

5. February 18, 2011, marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Wisconsin played an important role in the conflict, sending more than 90,000 men to fight for the Union, including many from Milwaukee and other cities. The state also provided significant financial support to the war effort.