1. On November 12, 1816, Indiana was admitted as the 19th state of the United States. The Hoosier state was formed from the Indiana Territory, which had been established in 1800.

2. In 1924, the first commercially successful automatic pop-up toaster was invented by Charles Strite in Stillwell, Indiana. The toaster became an essential kitchen appliance and is still in use today.

3. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the famous Indianapolis 500 race, held its first race on November 12, 1909. The track, located in Speedway, Indiana, is the largest spectator sporting facility in the world with over 250,000 seats.

4. On November 12, 1945, the University of Notre Dame played its first football game at Cartier Field in South Bend, Indiana. The Fighting Irish faced off against the University of Wisconsin and won 19-6.

5. On November 12, 1820, the Wabash and Erie Canal was authorized by Indiana's state legislature. The canal, which stretched over 460 miles, connected the Great Lakes to the Ohio River and was a major transportation route until the rise of railroads in the mid-1800s. Today, several sections of the canal have been preserved as part of Indiana's heritage.