1. On March 1, 1954, the University of Minnesota introduced the world's first artificial heart valve. The valve was created by Dr. C. Walton Lillehei and his team, and has since saved countless lives around the world.

2. In 1847, the Minnesota Territorial Legislature met for the first time on March 1. At the time, Minnesota was still considered part of the larger Wisconsin Territory, but this meeting marked the beginning of the push for statehood.

3. On March 1, 1920, the Minnesota state capitol building was dedicated. The building, which was designed by architect Cass Gilbert, is known for its stunning marble dome and Beaux-Arts style.

4. In 1978, the iconic band The Replacements played their very first live show on March 1 at a Minneapolis bar called The Longhorn. The band went on to become one of the most influential acts of the 1980s and 1990s.

5. On March 1, 1954, the legendary Babe the Blue Ox statue was unveiled in Bemidji, Minnesota. The statue, which is more than 18 feet tall, has become a beloved symbol of the state's north woods region.