1. In 1861, the Minnesota State Legislature authorized the formation of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This regiment would go on to fight in some of the most famous battles of the Civil War, including the Battle of Gettysburg.

2. On January 29, 1871, the Minnesota State Capitol was officially dedicated. The building, located in St. Paul, is known for its striking Renaissance Revival architecture and its impressive dome.

3. In 1922, the Telemark Lodge opened in Cable, Wisconsin, just a few miles from the Minnesota border. This ski resort was founded by Norwegian immigrant and skiing pioneer Trygve Berge, and is credited with helping to popularize the sport of skiing in the United States.

4. On January 29, 1947, the Minnesota State Board of Education voted to integrate the state's public schools. This decision came nearly a decade before the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

5. In 1999, the Minnesota Vikings played in their second Super Bowl in franchise history, but lost to the Denver Broncos. The game, which took place in Miami, was nicknamed the "Mountain vs. the Sound" as the Vikings represented the Midwest while the Broncos were from the Rocky Mountain region.