1. The Black Hills Expedition began on July 24, 1874, led by General George Armstrong Custer. The expedition's purpose was to explore the Black Hills region of South Dakota and to find gold. This ultimately lead to conflict with the Sioux Nation and the Battle of Little Bighorn.

2. On July 24, 1855, Pierre Chouteau Jr., an important figure in the fur trade industry, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Chouteau went on to become a successful businessman and served as a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives for the Dakota Territory from 1879-1881.

3. The town of Deadwood, South Dakota was officially incorporated on July 24, 1876. Deadwood was a boomtown during the Black Hills Gold Rush and is famous for being the location of the shooting of Wild Bill Hickok.

4. On July 24, 1973, the U.S. government signed the Agreement of Understanding with the Oglala Sioux Tribe, which ended the 71-day standoff at Wounded Knee. The standoff was sparked by the Oglala Sioux's demand for greater tribal sovereignty and was resolved through negotiations with the federal government.

5. In 1943, the B-17 bomber "Detroit Miss" crashed near Wall, South Dakota on July 24, killing all 25 passengers on board. The cause of the crash was never determined, but it remains one of the worst aviation disasters in South Dakota history. A memorial now stands at the site of the crash to honor those who lost their lives.