1. In 1858, Minnesota became the 32nd state in the United States. It was admitted to the Union on May 11, but May 31 is celebrated as Statehood Day in Minnesota.

2. On May 31, 1889, the Dakota language newspaper, Wokiksuye Maza K’a (Helping Each Other), was first published in Minnesota. It was the first known newspaper to be printed in a Native American language in the state.

3. In 1918, the deadliest tornado in Minnesota history struck the southwestern part of the state on May 31, killing 74 people and injuring over 200. The tornado had winds estimated at over 250 mph and was on the ground for over 80 miles.

4. May 31, 1927, marked the opening of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The museum, located in Minneapolis, houses over 90,000 works of art from around the world, including paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts.

5. On May 31, 1984, the Minnesota Twins played a game that would go down in baseball history. During the game against the Kansas City Royals, hometown hero Kirby Puckett hit four consecutive singles in four consecutive innings, becoming the first player to do so in a game since 1938.