1. The Idaho Statehood Bill was signed on February 15, 1890, making Idaho the 43rd state in the United States. This was the start of a new era for the territory, as it finally gained the right to participate in the political process of the nation.

2. On February 15, 1961, the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, made an historic voyage beneath the ice of the Arctic Ocean. The submarine had already made history in 1958, when it became the first vessel to sail under the North Pole.

3. In 2003, the island of Kootenay, located in Lake Pend Oreille in Northern Idaho, was designated as a national wildlife refuge. This marks an important step in the conservation of the lake’s ecosystem, which is one of America’s deepest and cleanest freshwater lakes.

4. On February 15, 1915, the Idaho State Capitol building was destroyed by a fire. The building, which had been completed in 1912, had cost almost $2 million to construct. After the fire, the state had to raise additional funds to rebuild the Capitol.

5. February 15, 1995, marked the opening of Boise Towne Square, Idaho’s largest mall. The mall features over 180 stores, including Macy’s, JCPenney, and Dillard’s. It has also become a popular destination for family entertainment, due to its indoor amusement park and cinemas.