1. In 1867, the University of Minnesota officially opened its doors to students for the first time. Today, the school is one of the largest and most respected public research universities in the country.

2. On February 28, 1885, the Mississippi River flooded in St. Paul, causing significant damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. The flood was caused by rapid snowmelt and ice jams along the river, and remains one of the largest natural disasters in Minnesota history.

3. In 1924, the legendary musician and bandleader Prince was born in Minneapolis. Prince went on to achieve global fame and is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation.

4. On this day in 1940, the University of Minnesota's "Golden Gophers" basketball team beat Michigan in one of the most dramatic games in NCAA history. The game went into overtime and featured a buzzer-beating shot by Minnesota's John Kundla to secure the win.

5. In 1987, Governor Rudy Perpich declared February 28 "Prince Day" in honor of the musician's contributions to Minnesota culture and the arts. The declaration was made on the same day that Prince won his first Grammy award for "Kiss."