1. In 1896, on February 8, Utah became the 45th state to be admitted into the United States of America. This followed decades of controversy and conflict surrounding the issue of polygamy, which had been practiced by some members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in Utah.

2. On February 8, 1963, the Salt Lake City-based television station KUTV became the first in the state to broadcast in color. The station had recently invested in new equipment to allow for color broadcasting, and this marked a major milestone in the evolution of television technology.

3. February 8, 1934, saw the birth of two important figures in Utah's cultural and artistic scene. Painter and sculptor Dallas Graham was born in Salt Lake City on that day, and would go on to exhibit his work across the United States and abroad. Meanwhile, the well-known Utah-based novelist and essayist Terry Tempest Williams was also born on February 8, 1934, in Jackson, Wyoming.

4. In 2002, on February 8, the 19th Winter Olympics opened in Salt Lake City. This was the first time that the Winter Games had been held in the United States since 1980, and it marked a major moment for the city of Salt Lake City and the state of Utah. The games were largely successful, although they were later marred by controversy over allegations of bribery and corruption in the bid process.

5. Finally, February 8 marks the anniversary of the birth of the famous Utah musician and singer-songwriter, J.D. Souther, in 1945. Souther has been a prolific musician and songwriter for decades, having written or co-written numerous popular hits in the 1970s and beyond. He is perhaps best known for his collaborations with musicians like Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, and Bonnie Raitt.