1. In 1918, the deadliest influenza pandemic of all time arrived in Iowa. This was known as the Spanish Flu and led to the deaths of approximately 6,000 Iowans.

2. In 1916, a fire broke out at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, Iowa. The fire destroyed much of the prison, and 13 inmates were killed.

3. On October 12, 1859, the Iowa State Agricultural Society held its first annual fair in Fairfield, Iowa. The Society was founded to promote agriculture and agricultural education in Iowa.

4. In 1979, a major tornado outbreak hit Iowa, causing widespread damage and killing several people. One of the most destructive tornadoes hit the town of Parkersburg, Iowa, destroying much of the town and killing seven people.

5. On October 12, 1943, the USS Iowa, a battleship named after the state, was commissioned. The ship served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War before being decommissioned in 1990. Today, the USS Iowa is a museum ship in San Pedro, California.