1. In 1910, a massive snowstorm hit Montana, causing an avalanche in the Cascade Mountains that killed 96 people. This remains the deadliest avalanche in U.S. history.

2. On February 26, 1855, the Flathead Indian Reservation was established in western Montana. The reservation covers over 1.2 million acres and is home to the Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreille tribes.

3. In 1929, the Montana Highway Patrol was founded, making it one of the oldest state law enforcement agencies in the United States. Today, the Montana Highway Patrol is responsible for enforcing traffic laws and investigating crashes on Montana's roadways.

4. On this day in 1976, the Montana State University basketball team won the Big Sky Conference championship for the first time. The team went on to play in the NCAA tournament, where they lost to the University of Arizona in the first round.

5. Montana's first territorial capital, Bannack, was established on February 26, 1864. At its peak, Bannack was home to over 3,000 residents and served as a center of commerce for the surrounding gold mining towns. Today, Bannack is a well-preserved ghost town and is a popular attraction for tourists and history enthusiasts.