1. In 1933, North Dakota officially became the first state to implement a state-owned bank, the Bank of North Dakota. The bank has been credited with helping to stabilize the state's economy during the Great Depression and its model has since been emulated by other states.

2. On July 12, 1960, the missile site near Cooperstown, North Dakota became the first in the United States to be armed with the Minuteman I intercontinental ballistic missile, which was capable of delivering a nuclear payload.

3. The town of Fargo, North Dakota, was founded on July 12, 1871, by William Fargo and his business partner, George Merrick. The town was named after Fargo, who was a prominent businessman and founder of Wells Fargo & Company.

4. In 1934, North Dakota enacted the nation's first state-owned grain elevator, which provided farmers with a market for their crops and helped to stabilize agricultural prices.

5. On July 12, 2002, North Dakota Governor John Hoeven signed a bill into law that created the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission, which was tasked with planning and coordinating events to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in North Dakota. The commission organized a variety of events, including historical reenactments, educational programs, and cultural events, which helped to raise awareness of the expedition and its significance in North Dakota history.