1. On January 8, 1904, the first public library in Mankato, Minnesota was established. It was housed in a small room on the ground floor of the City Hall building.

2. In 1948, on January 8, the first Ford Mercury car was produced at the Twin Cities Assembly Plant in St. Paul. The plant was the largest employer in St. Paul until its closing in 2011.

3. On January 8, 1917, six inches of snow fell in a blizzard that lasted for two days, causing significant travel and communication disruptions in the state.

4. On this date in 1935, the Minnesota state legislature ratified the Twenty-first Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which repealed prohibition.

5. January 8, 1982 marks the opening of the St. Cloud Civic Center, which has since hosted concerts, sporting events, and other community gatherings.