1. On January 4, 1880, the Dubuque-Hanover train was robbed by four masked men who stole approximately $7,000 in cash and bonds. The robbers were eventually caught and sentenced to prison.

2. In 1947, Iowa Governor Robert D. Blue delivered his inaugural address on January 4. In his speech, he called for a balanced budget and increased funding for education.

3. On January 4, 1983, an arsonist set fire to the historic Masonic Temple in Cedar Rapids. The building was severely damaged but later restored and now serves as office space for various businesses.

4. The Iowa caucus, an important part of the presidential election process, is often held in January. In 1988, the Iowa caucus was held on January 4th and was won by Democratic candidate Dick Gephardt.

5. Iowa State University was founded on March 22, 1858, but its first classes were not held until January 4, 1869. The university now has over 30,000 students and offers a wide variety of programs and degrees.