1. In 1870, the first issue of the Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette was published. The paper, still in circulation today, was one of the first daily newspapers in Iowa and has won numerous awards for its journalism.

2. On January 27, 1948, an F4 tornado touched down in central Iowa, killing 18 people and injuring over 100. The tornado was part of a larger outbreak that struck several states, and it remains one of the deadliest tornadoes in Iowa's history.

3. In 1966, the state of Iowa officially adopted the Black Hawk War flag as its official state flag. The flag features a bald eagle holding a ribbon that reads "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain," a motto that reflects Iowa's long-standing commitment to individual freedom and equality.

4. On January 27, 1973, the Iowa Writers' Workshop hosted its first-ever reading in Iowa City. The workshop, founded in 1936, has since become one of the most well-respected creative writing programs in the world, attracting writers from all over the globe.

5. In 1987, Terry Branstad was sworn in as the governor of Iowa for the third time, becoming the state's longest-serving chief executive. Branstad's tenure as governor spanned over two decades, and he remains a prominent figure in Iowa politics to this day.