1. In 1876, the Battle of Arrow Creek occurred near the confluence of the Yellowstone and Powder rivers. This was one of the earliest battles between the United States Army and native tribes in Montana territory.

2. 1908 marks the date of the first state-wide election that allowed women in Montana to vote. This was four years before the 19th amendment was ratified, granting women the right to vote across the United States.

3. In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Helena, Montana, to attend the dedication of the Montana State Capitol building. This event was significant because it was one of the largest public buildings constructed by the federal Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression.

4. In 1975, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the southwest corner of Montana, mostly impacting the town of Lima. This event was considered one of the largest recorded earthquakes in the history of the state and served as a reminder of the seismic activity that occurs in the region.

5. On April 25, 1990, the Montana state legislature passed a bill officially designating the western meadowlark as the state bird. This decision was contentious, as some had argued for the mountain bluebird to be designated instead. Today, the western meadowlark is a beloved symbol of Montana and appears on the state's license plates and other emblems.