1. In 1895, the city of Grand Forks witnessed one of the most devastating fires in its history. The fire destroyed over 15 blocks of the city's commercial district, causing millions of dollars in damage.

2. On July 19, 1909, North Dakota became the first state in the country to adopt a statewide initiative and referendum process. This allowed citizens to propose and vote on laws, making North Dakota an innovator in direct democracy.

3. In 1960, the United States Air Force established the Minot Air Force Base in Ward County, North Dakota. The base was a strategic location during the Cold War and played a major role in America's strategic nuclear missile program.

4. On July 19, 2002, the Jamestown State Hospital in Jamestown, North Dakota was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The hospital was a pioneering institution in the field of mental health and became a model for psychiatric care in the early 20th century.

5. In 2013, the town of Medora unveiled a bronze statue of Theodore Roosevelt to commemorate the president's personal connection to North Dakota. Roosevelt spent time in North Dakota as a rancher and was instrumental in preserving the state's wilderness areas.