1. The Dakota Territory was officially established on July 22, 1861, by an act of Congress. This territory encompassed what is now North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and part of Wyoming.

2. In 1889, the first state capitol building in Bismarck, North Dakota, was completed on July 22. The building still stands today and serves as the state's judicial branch.

3. July 22, 1925, marked the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota. The park is named after the 26th president of the United States, who spent much of his early career in North Dakota.

4. On July 22, 1934, the first section of the Garrison Dam project was approved by Congress. The dam was completed in 1953 and is still one of the largest dams in the United States.

5. July 22, 2011, marked the 50th anniversary of the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. The base played a significant role in the Cold War and is now home to the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing.