1. On February 19, 1837, Iowa Territory was established by an act of Congress. Prior to this, Iowa had been part of the larger Michigan Territory and then the Wisconsin Territory.

2. On February 19, 1864, the Union Army won a decisive victory over Confederate forces at the Battle of Olustee, Florida. Iowa soldiers fought bravely in this battle, helping to secure an important victory for the Union army.

3. On February 19, 1936, Iowa-born scientist and inventor George Washington Carver was honored with a national monument at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Carver was known for his groundbreaking work in agricultural science, including his development of crop rotation methods and his research into new uses for peanuts and sweet potatoes.

4. On February 19, 1945, Iowa native and renowned journalist Fredrick March published an essay in Time magazine calling for an end to racial segregation in the United States. March had covered civil rights issues extensively throughout his career, and his essay helped to bring attention to the urgent need for change.

5. On February 19, 1992, Iowa State University became the first public university in the United States to offer a major in women's studies. This groundbreaking program was designed to explore the contributions of women to society and to promote gender equality and social justice.