1. On May 11, 1805, the first public graduation ceremony was held at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. The university was the first institution of higher education established in the state of Ohio.

2. One of Ohio's most famous inventors, Thomas Edison, was born on May 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio. Edison is known for developing the first commercially practical incandescent light bulb and holding over 1,000 patents.

3. The Great Dayton Flood occurred on May 11, 1913, after a combination of heavy rain and snowmelt caused the Great Miami River to overflow its banks. The flood caused over $100 million in damage and claimed over 360 lives, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in American history.

4. On May 11, 1981, the Cincinnati Reds outfielder George Foster hit his 3,000th career hit at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Foster was a key player in the Reds' World Series championship team in 1975 and 1976.

5. The Ohio State University's OSU Extension program was established on May 11, 1914, with the goal of providing practical, research-based knowledge to farmers and other Ohioans. The program has since expanded to include topics such as business development, health, and community development.