1. In 1871, the Great Hinckley Fire devastated parts of northern Minnesota, killing more than 400 people and destroying several towns. It was one of the deadliest wildfires in United States history.
2. In 1887, the Minnesota Territorial Capitol building in Saint Paul was destroyed by a fire. The building had served as the seat of government for the territory and later the state of Minnesota until it was replaced by the current State Capitol in the early 1900s.
3. In 1951, University of Minnesota football player Paul Giel led the team to a 20-0 victory over the University of Wisconsin. Giel, who played both football and baseball at the university, was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
4. In 1971, the Minnesota Vikings defeated the New England Patriots 28-10 in a regular season NFL game at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. The Vikings went on to reach the Super Bowl that season, but lost to the Miami Dolphins.
5. In 1991, the Minnesota Twins won their second World Series championship, defeating the Atlanta Braves in game seven of the series. The game was played at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, and the Twins were led by pitcher Jack Morris, who threw a ten-inning shutout to clinch the title.