1. On July 20, 1881, the town of Deadwood was devastated by a massive fire. The blaze burned through the commercial district, destroying numerous businesses and homes. Despite the destruction, the town was quickly rebuilt and continued to flourish as a mining town.

2. In 1910, South Dakota's first state-owned and operated fish hatchery was established in Spearfish. The hatchery played a critical role in restocking South Dakota's lakes and rivers with fish, and continues to operate today.

3. Rapid City officially became South Dakota's second-largest city on July 20, 1950, when the population surpassed 18,000 residents. Today, Rapid City is home to more than 75,000 people, making it the state's primary tourist destination.

4. On July 20, 1969, South Dakotans joined the rest of the world in watching as American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon. The historic event captured the imaginations of people everywhere, and helped inspire future generations of space exploration.

5. In 2011, the historic Mount Rushmore National Memorial celebrated its 70th anniversary on July 20. The iconic monument features the faces of US Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt carved into the granite cliffs of the Black Hills. Today, millions of visitors flock to the site each year to see the awe-inspiring sculpture up close.