1. On August 7, 1889, Montana became the 41st state of the United States, after President Benjamin Harrison signed the legislation that admitted it into the union.

2. In 1915, the Great Northern Railway completed the "Rocky Mountain Limited" luxury passenger train route that ran from Chicago to Seattle, via Montana. The route included stops in major Montana cities like Missoula and Whitefish. The train service operated for over 50 years and was popular among affluent travelers.

3. In 1947, the devastating Mann Gulch fire occurred in the Helena National Forest in Montana, killing 13 Forest Service firefighters. It was caused by a lightning strike and remains one of the deadliest wildfires in US history.

4. On August 7, 1985, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck near West Yellowstone, Montana, causing significant damage in the surrounding area. The earthquake was felt as far away as Seattle and Salt Lake City.

5. August 7, 2017, marked the 75th anniversary of the B-17 crash on Sheep Mountain, outside of Bozeman, Montana. The crash occurred during World War II when the bomber was attempting to cross the mountain range in bad weather. Fourteen crewmen were killed, and their remains were eventually recovered and buried with full military honors. A memorial plaque now marks the site of the crash.