1. On May 4, 1886, the city of Decorah experienced a devastating fire that destroyed a large portion of the downtown area, including numerous businesses and homes.

2. May 4, 1934, is known as "Bloody Friday" in Iowa history. On this day, a confrontation between striking Teamsters and members of the Iowa National Guard resulted in the deaths of two strikers and injuries to many others.

3. The Iowa State Fair Grounds were established on May 4, 1886. The state fair has been held annually in Des Moines since that time, making it one of the oldest state fairs in the country.

4. On May 4, 1971, former astronaut and Iowa native James A. Van Allen testified before Congress about the importance of space exploration. Van Allen was a pioneer in the field of space science and discovered the Van Allen radiation belts, which surround the earth.

5. May 4, 2007, marked the opening of the Iowa Wine Trail. The trail connects a dozen wineries located throughout the state and offers visitors the opportunity to sample a variety of locally produced wines.