1. On January 22, 1889, Helena, Montana became the capital of the newly formed state of Montana. Prior to this, the capital had been located in Virginia City.

2. In 1900, on January 22, the first edition of The Montana Kaimin, the student newspaper of the University of Montana, was published. The paper is still in circulation today.

3. In 1932, on January 22, the Montana State Orphans' Home in Twin Bridges was destroyed by a fire, resulting in the deaths of 11 children and one staff member. The cause of the fire was never determined.

4. On January 22, 1946, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck near Helena, Montana. There were no reported fatalities, but several dozen buildings sustained damage.

5. On January 22, 1983, the first Miss Montana USA pageant was held in Billings. The winner, Eve Potter, went on to represent Montana in the Miss USA pageant later that year.