1. On December 18, 1904, the town of Joliet, Montana was incorporated. Joliet was founded in 1895 as a stop along the Northern Pacific Railway, and today is home to just over 600 residents.

2. In 1917, on December 18th, Montana Governor Sam V. Stewart issued a proclamation declaring December 22nd to be "Liberty Bond Day" in the state. In the midst of World War I, the proclamation encouraged Montanans to purchase war bonds and support the war effort.

3. On December 18, 1925, Montana State University played in its first-ever football bowl game, losing to the University of Nevada in the American Legion Bowl in San Diego, California. MSU had finished the regular season with a record of 6-1-1.

4. In 1943, on December 18th, the Montana-born pilot Colonel James Doolittle was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading the famous "Doolittle Raid" on Tokyo during World War II. The raid, which took place on April 18, 1942, was the first air raid to be launched against mainland Japan.

5. December 18, 1971 marked the opening of Montana's first state-operated historic site, the Madison Buffalo Jump State Park. Located near Three Forks, the park preserves the history of Native American tribes who hunted buffalo at the site for over 2,000 years. Today, the park offers hiking trails, guided tours, and educational programs.