1. On May 12, 1866, the first officially recorded baseball game in Minnesota was played in Fort Snelling. The game was between the soldiers of the Fort and the team from St. Paul.

2. In 1883, on this same day, the Minnesota Historical Society was founded. The organization has been dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of Minnesota ever since.

3. On May 12, 1905, the Minnesota State Fair Grounds was officially opened. The State Fair is now one of the largest and most popular events in the state, attracting over 2 million visitors every year.

4. In 1932, the iconic Foshay Tower in downtown Minneapolis was completed on May 12. At the time, it was the tallest building in the city and held the record until 1971.

5. On this day in 1978, the University of Minnesota Duluth declared a state of emergency due to a massive flooding caused by the melting of the winter snow. The flood caused widespread damage and claimed several lives, but the community came together to rebuild and recover.