1. On August 6, 1819, the famous American author and poet, Herman Melville, was born in New York. Although he never visited South Dakota, his literary works such as Moby Dick, have been read and studied by those in the state.

2. In 1876, on the same date, an event known as the Battle of Warbonnet Creek occurred in South Dakota during the Great Sioux War. The skirmish was between the U.S. Army and the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne tribes, resulting in a victory for the Native American forces.

3. August 6, 1927, marked a significant day in the aviation history of South Dakota. It was when Charles Lindbergh, of Spirit Lake, successfully completed a solo, non-stop flight from New York to Paris, France, in his plane, Spirit of St. Louis. Lindbergh’s achievement paved the way for other aviators and inspired a generation.

4. The state of South Dakota became the 40th state of the United States on November 2, 1889. However, it was on August 6 of the same year that the U.S. President signed the proclamation that officially declared South Dakota as a state.

5. In 1961, the state of South Dakota unveiled a new state flag on August 6th. The flag is blue with the state's name written across the top in yellow letters. The center of the flag features the state seal surrounded by a sunburst, with agricultural and mining scenes portrayed at the bottom. The flag replaced the previous design adopted in 1909, which was a simple tricolor of blue, white, and red.