1. North Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889, but June 12 has been designated as the official state flag day. On this day in 1911, the North Dakota state flag was adopted, featuring a blue field with a bald eagle holding an olive branch and arrows, with a shield depicting a landscape of badlands and wheat fields.

2. In 1967, a devastating tornado outbreak swept through North Dakota on June 12, destroying homes, businesses, and crops, and claiming six lives. The storms, which included several tornadoes and hailstorms, caused widespread damage throughout the state.

3. June 12, 1963, was also a landmark date in North Dakota history, as Governor William L. Guy signed the state's first anti-discrimination law into effect, banning discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based on race, religion, color, sex, or national origin.

4. The Lewis and Clark Expedition, which explored the Missouri River and surrounding territories in 1804-1806, passed through what is now North Dakota during the month of June. On June 12, 1805, the expedition reached the Mandan and Hidatsa villages near present-day Bismarck, where they would spend the winter.

5. June 12, 1959, saw the opening of another notable North Dakota landmark: the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn. The museum features exhibits on the history of the expedition, as well as the geological, biological, and cultural features of the Missouri River region.