1. Armistice Day was observed as a national holiday on November 11th annually until it was changed to Veterans Day in 1954. Iowa was one of the states that naturally gave recognition to the day, holding parades and other events in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and other cities to celebrate the end of World War I.

2. In 1918, during the early hours of November 11, the telegram announcing the ceasefire of the war arrived in the offices of the Des Moines Register and Des Moines Tribune. Iowa's largest newspapers broke the news to the anxious public awaiting the end of the war.

3. On November 11, 1915, the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines was opened to the public after nearly 15 years of construction. Today, the state Capitol building serves as the seat of the Iowa state government.

4. On November 11, 1889, the city of Sioux City experienced a significant fire event that destroyed nearly every building in its downtown area. The fire started in the early morning hours and burned for more than 12 hours.

5. November 11, 2000, marked the day that the Iowa Hawkeyes beat the #1 ranked team, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, in a historic football game. The upset win acted as a culmination of the Hawkeyes' 7-4 season and helped to establish the Hawkeyes as a serious contender in the Big Ten conference.