1. On May 11, 1858, Wisconsin held its first state-wide election after becoming a state in 1848. This election included the Governorship and other state and local positions.

2. On May 11, 1912, the cornerstone was laid for the Wisconsin State Capitol building in Madison. The building, which was completed in 1917, features unique architecture and a stunning rotunda.

3. On May 11, 1949, the first public television program in the United States aired in Madison, Wisconsin. The program was a physics lecture by University of Wisconsin professor Sterling Emery.

4. On May 11, 1963, a major tornado outbreak hit Wisconsin and other states in the Midwest. In Wisconsin, the towns of Black River Falls and La Crosse were severely impacted, with many homes and buildings destroyed and several fatalities.

5. On May 11, 2014, the famous Wisconsin Cheese Curd Festival was held in Ellsworth, Wisconsin. The festival celebrates the state's love of cheese and features music, games, and of course, plenty of cheese curds to sample.