1. On August 5, 1835, Jesuit missionary Pierre-Jean De Smet established St. Mary's Mission in present-day Stevensville. The mission played a significant role in the development of western Montana and was a hub of Catholic religious and educational activity for nearly a century.

2. August 5, 1889, marks the day that Montana achieved statehood and became the 41st state of the United States. The state's capital, Helena, was selected as the capital by a narrow vote over Anaconda and Deer Lodge.

3. One of the deadliest wildfires in Montana's history occurred on August 5, 1935. Known as the "Mann Gulch Fire," it claimed the lives of 13 firefighters who were assigned to a remote area in the Helena National Forest. The tragedy ultimately led to significant changes in firefighting policies and procedures.

4. On August 5, 1959, the Montana Mining School in Butte officially became the Montana School of Mines. The school, which is now part of Montana Tech, has a rich history of educating students in engineering, science, and technology and continues to be a leading institution in these fields.

5. August 5, 1979, was the day that Montana native and Montana State University alumnus Joe McDonald founded the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project. The project aims to find a balance between conservation and responsible land use in the Blackfoot Valley and has been a model for collaborative natural resource management across the country.