1. In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison signed a proclamation admitting North Dakota as a state in the United States. April 3 marks the official statehood day of North Dakota.
2. In 1975, the North Dakota State Capitol building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The building, located in Bismarck, was completed in 1934 and includes a 19-story tower, making it the tallest building in North Dakota.
3. In 2012, North Dakota became the second state to pass a "Right to Farm" amendment to its state constitution. The amendment protects the practices of farmers and ranchers from legal challenges by those who claim the practices are harmful to the environment or public health.
4. On April 3, 1997, a massive blizzard hit North Dakota, closing schools and highways and causing widespread power outages. The storm dropped up to 30 inches of snow, making it one of the state's worst blizzards on record.
5. In 2010, the city of Fargo, North Dakota made national headlines for its efforts to combat a major flood. The city, which had experienced devastating floods in the past, built a massive network of levees and sandbagging operations to protect the city from the rising Red River. The flood ultimately did not reach the levels predicted, but the efforts of the community to save the city were widely praised.