1. On July 17, 1864, a group of Crow warriors attacked a camp of Cheyenne and Arapaho at Pryor Creek, near present-day Billings. The attack was provoked by tensions between the two tribes over hunting territories in the area. The Crow killed around 80 Cheyenne and Arapaho, including many women and children, in what became known as the Battle of Pryor Creek.

2. July 17, 1959 saw the dedication of the Montana Highway 200 bridge over the Missouri River near Wolf Creek. The bridge was designed by famous bridge builder Ralph Modjeski and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is one of the longest and tallest bridges in Montana.

3. In 1996, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake shook the town of West Yellowstone and its surrounding areas on July 17th. There were no injuries reported, but the quake caused some damage to buildings and roads in the area. It was one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in Montana.

4. On July 17, 1944, a B-24 bomber on a training mission crashed into Emigrant Peak, south of Livingston, killing all 10 crew members on board. The wreckage was not discovered for three years until a group of hikers stumbled upon it. The crash site is still accessible and serves as a memorial to the fallen airmen.

5. Montana became the 41st state in the United States on November 8, 1889, but it wasn't until July 17, 1989 that its flag was officially adopted by the state legislature. The flag features a blue background with the state seal in the center, surrounded by a sunburst and the word "Montana" in gold letters.