1. On May 14, 1861, Wisconsin Governor Alexander Randall offered the state's first regiment of volunteers to fight for the Union during the Civil War. The "Iron Brigade" would go on to be one of the most famous and battle-tested units of the war.

2. May 14, 1874, marked the completion of the Green Bay & Lake Pepin Railroad, a major transportation link for the lumber and agricultural industries of western Wisconsin.

3. On May 14, 1903, Wisconsin became the first state in the country to adopt a direct primary system for political candidates, in which voters could nominate candidates directly for public office rather than relying on party leaders.

4. The Wisconsin State Capitol building, located in Madison, was dedicated on May 14, 1917. It remains one of the most impressive and recognizable state capitol buildings in the United States.

5. In the early morning hours of May 14, 1970, the town of Black River Falls was struck by one of the largest tornadoes in Wisconsin history. The EF5 tornado caused widespread destruction and resulted in nine fatalities, making it one of the deadliest tornadoes in state history.