1. In 1870, Minnesota became the first state in the U.S. to officially celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday commemorating the civil rights leader's birthday.

2. On January 13, 1903, the National Farmers' Grain Dealers Association was founded in Minneapolis. The organization, which is now known as the National Grain and Feed Association, was established to represent the interests of grain dealers and millers throughout the country.

3. In 1926, the first aircraft equipped with a successful de-icing system was flown in Minnesota. The system, which used a mixture of alcohol and glycerin to melt ice on the plane's wings, was developed by the engineering firm of Huff-Daland and was tested on a plane flying between Minneapolis and Fargo.

4. On January 13, 1978, the Minnesota North Stars defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 7-1 in a game played at the old Met Center in Bloomington. The victory was notable because it marked the first time that a team from Minnesota had beaten Philadelphia in a professional sporting event.

5. In 1991, the Minnesota Twins signed free agent pitcher Jack Morris to a one-year contract worth $3.7 million. Morris, who would go on to win the World Series MVP award that season, helped lead the Twins to their second championship in five years.