1. In 1843, the first Iowa territorial fair was held in Fairfield on October 6. The fair was organized to showcase the state's agricultural products, and by 1855, the Iowa State Fair was established, which takes place annually in August.

2. On October 6, 1866, the Iowa Agricultural College (now Iowa State University) opened its doors to students for the first time. The school offered classes in agriculture, horticulture, and veterinary science, and is now one of the leading research universities in the country.

3. In 1923, the first bridge across the Mississippi River connecting Iowa and Illinois was dedicated. The Sergeant John F. Baker Jr. Memorial Bridge, also known as the Savanna-Sabula Bridge, spans over 10,000 feet and was named after a local soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II.

4. On October 6, 1982, the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison became the first prison in the country to implement a "supermax" unit. The unit, known as the "Adjustment Center," was designed to house the most violent and disruptive offenders in a highly-secured environment.

5. In 2012, the Des Moines Register announced its endorsement of Mitt Romney for president on October 6. The newspaper's endorsement was historically significant, as it marked the first time the publication endorsed a Republican candidate since 1972.