1. On August 15, 1870, the first train arrived in Bannack, Montana. The train brought supplies and miners to the gold rush town, which was experiencing rapid growth at the time.

2. August 15, 1894, marked the first day of the Battle of Canyon Creek. The conflict occurred in what is now the Deer Lodge National Forest and was fought between the United States Army and the Bitterroot Salish tribe. The battle ended in a US victory, with several Salish warriors and non-combatants losing their lives.

3. The Lewis and Clark Expedition entered what is now Montana on August 15, 1805. The expedition followed the Missouri River through the state, encountering and mapping various Native American tribes along the way.

4. August 15, 1917, saw the dedication of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building in Billings, Montana. The building was constructed to honor the state's veterans of World War I and is now used as a community center.

5. On August 15, 1977, Montana's famous "Unabomber," Ted Kaczynski, mailed his first bomb to a Northwestern University professor. The bombing was the first of many that Kaczynski would carry out over the next 17 years, resulting in three deaths and 23 injuries. Kaczynski was arrested in 1996 and is currently serving a life sentence in federal prison.