1. In 1916, the city of Minot experienced a devastating fire that destroyed much of the downtown area. The fire started on February 21 and burned for several days, ultimately causing millions of dollars in damage and leaving thousands of people homeless.

2. In 1931, North Dakota passed a law allowing women to serve on juries. This was a significant milestone for women's rights in the state, which had been a trailblazer in suffrage and other feminist issues.

3. February 21, 1947 saw the first-ever polar bear born in captivity, at the Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot. The cub, named Minotaur, was a major attraction for the zoo for several years and helped to promote conservation efforts for the endangered species.

4. In 1976, North Dakota declared the Western Meadowlark as the official state bird. The Meadowlark is known for its distinctive, melodious song, which is a familiar sound in the state's grasslands and wetlands.

5. On February 21, 1989, North Dakota Senator Quentin Burdick delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor advocating for farm subsidies and other assistance for struggling small farmers. Burdick was a longtime advocate for rural communities and was instrumental in shaping agriculture policy in the state and across the country.