1. On January 28, 1917, North Dakota passed an important law stating that all bank deposits in the state were to be insured by the state government. This made North Dakota the first state in the US to have a government-run deposit insurance system, which helped protect the state's residents against the risk of bank failures.

2. In 1955, North Dakota State University in Fargo established its first doctoral program, in civil engineering. This program helped to establish NDSU as a leading institution for engineering education in the region, and it has since grown to include several other doctoral programs in various fields.

3. On January 28, 1857, the US Congress passed a law creating the Minnesota Territory. The new territory included much of what is now North Dakota, and would eventually become the springboard for North Dakota's own territorial status and eventual statehood.

4. In 1936, North Dakota held a referendum on a proposal to make the official state bird the western meadowlark. The proposal passed with overwhelming support from voters, and the western meadowlark has remained North Dakota's state bird ever since.

5. On January 28, 1969, the North Dakota State Capitol building in Bismarck was officially dedicated. The building had been under construction for several years and was designed to reflect the state's prairie landscape and heritage. Today, it remains an iconic landmark of North Dakota's capital city.