1. Iowa became the 29th state in the United States of America on December 28, 1846. However, on May 23, 1850, Congress passed an act to organize the territories of Nebraska and Kansas, both of which were part of Iowa's original territory.

2. In 1873, a massive tornado struck the town of Grinnell, Iowa, on May 23, wreaking havoc and destruction in the area. The tornado caused significant damage to buildings and homes and killed several people in the town.

3. On May 23, 1900, a fire broke out in a lumberyard in the small town of Anita, Iowa. The fire quickly spread to nearby buildings, causing significant damage and forcing residents to evacuate their homes. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt in the incident.

4. In 1934, the famous outlaw duo Bonnie and Clyde were involved in a shootout with law enforcement near Dexter, Iowa, on May 23. During the incident, both Bonnie and Clyde were shot and wounded, but they managed to escape.

5. On May 23, 1969, astronaut and Iowa native James Van Allen was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Richard Nixon for his outstanding contributions to the field of space science. Van Allen was known for his work on the discovery and study of Earth's radiation belts, which are now known as the Van Allen belts.