1. On December 26, 1883, the Northern Pacific Railroad completed its transcontinental line linking North Dakota to the rest of the country. This was a major milestone for the state's economic growth and development.

2. December 26, 1890 marked the day after the infamous Wounded Knee Massacre, where U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of Lakota Native Americans in South Dakota. The massacre had significant impacts on Native American relations and activism in North Dakota and beyond.

3. In 1953, the Great Northern Railway discontinued passenger service through North Dakota, marking the end of an era for the state's railroad transportation.

4. On December 26, 1989, North Dakota Governor George Sinner declared a state of emergency due to severe winter weather conditions, including blizzards and subzero temperatures. The emergency declaration allowed for the mobilization of resources and aid to affected areas.

5. In 2016, North Dakota experienced one of its worst oil spills on Lake Oahe near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The spill occurred on December 26 and resulted in over 170,000 gallons of crude oil being leaked into the lake, causing significant environmental damage and further fueling the ongoing controversy surrounding the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.