1. In 1868, the Sioux War officially ended with the signing of the Fort Laramie Treaty. This treaty, which was signed on February 24, established a Great Sioux Reservation and promised to protect the rights of the Lakota people. However, the treaty was later broken by the US government, leading to the Battle of Little Bighorn and other conflicts.

2. On February 24, 1936, South Dakota Governor Tom Berry called for a state-wide, non-partisan meeting in Pierre to discuss ways to alleviate the effects of the Great Depression. Over 1,500 citizens attended the meeting, which resulted in the creation of the South Dakota Emergency Relief Administration, which provided work relief to unemployed citizens.

3. In 1987, a winter storm of historic proportions brought blizzard conditions and record-breaking snowfall to South Dakota. The storm began on February 23 and continued through February 25, dropping up to five feet of snow in some areas. Thousands of residents were left without power or heat, and many were stranded in their homes for days.

4. On February 24, 1994, the South Dakota House of Representatives voted to outlaw abortion except in cases where the mother's life was at risk. The bill, which became known as the "Rape and Incest Exception Act," was later struck down by the US Supreme Court.

5. In 2015, South Dakota became the first state to pass a law allowing teachers to carry guns in schools. The law, which was signed on February 24, allows school boards to create "school sentinel" programs that would allow trained school employees to carry firearms. The law has been controversial, with some critics arguing that arming teachers is not an effective way to prevent school shootings.