1. In 1862, the Homestead Act was passed by the US Congress, opening up millions of acres of land in South Dakota and other western states for settlement by individual farmers.

2. On April 14, 1894, the US Army established a new post in the Black Hills of South Dakota, known as Fort Meade. The post served as a training and mobilization center for US troops during World War II and the Korean War.

3. The famous pioneer and Wild West showman, Buffalo Bill Cody, visited South Dakota on several occasions, including on April 14, 1901, when he performed a show in the city of Sioux Falls.

4. On April 14, 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was established by the US government. The program provided employment and training for young men, and helped to develop South Dakota's state and national parks, forests, and other natural areas.

5. In 1970, a deadly tornado struck the town of Valparaiso, South Dakota on April 14, killing six people and causing widespread destruction. The tornado was part of a larger outbreak of severe weather that affected several Midwestern states.