1. On February 7, 1945, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota performed the first successful open-heart surgery in the United States with the use of a heart-lung machine. The patient, Lillehei's twelve-year-old daughter, Sharon, survived the operation and lived a relatively healthy life until she passed away in 1987.

2. In 1991, on February 7, the Minnesota Twins held a rally at the Metrodome to celebrate their recent World Series Championship. Over 50,000 fans attended the event to hear from players and coaches and to cheer on the team.

3. On February 7, 1987, the Minnesota Vikings signed legendary quarterback Warren Moon. Moon went on to lead the Vikings to two playoff appearances and became one of the most successful quarterbacks in team history.

4. In 1869, on February 7, Minnesota became the first state to ratify the 15th Amendment, which granted African American men the right to vote. This historic event paved the way for other states to follow suit and helped to expand voting rights across the country.

5. February 7, 2008 marked the 15th anniversary of the University of Minnesota's Hormel Nature Center. Located in Austin, Minnesota, the center is dedicated to environmental education and offers a variety of programs and activities for visitors of all ages.