1. In 1876, Colonel John Gibbon led the Montana Column in a battle against the Sioux and Northern Cheyenne tribes near the Little Bighorn River. The battle, known as the Battle of the Rosebud, was a prelude to the famous Battle of Little Bighorn, which occurred just nine days later.

2. In 1928, the state's first airport was established in Helena, Montana. The airport was named after the famed aviatrix, Amelia Earhart, who made several appearances at the airport during its early years.

3. In 1943, the United States Air Force established the Malmstrom Air Force Base near Great Falls, Montana. The base played a critical role in the Cold War, and today it is home to the 341st Missile Wing, responsible for the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles.

4. In 1994, a major forest fire broke out in western Montana. The fire, which burned for several months, eventually consumed over 800,000 acres of land and destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings. The fire remains one of the largest in Montana's history.

5. In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Tribal Law and Order Act, which was designed to improve the relationship between Native American tribes and the federal government. The act included provisions to increase funding for law enforcement on tribal lands, improve communication and coordination between tribal and federal law enforcement agencies, and enhance the sentencing authority of tribal courts.