1. Statehood Day: March 1st marks Statehood Day in North Dakota, as it was admitted to the Union as the 39th state on this day in 1889.
2. Bismarck becomes the capital: When North Dakota became a state, the city of Bismarck was named the state capital, replacing the territorial capital of Yankton.
3. Great Flood of 1997: In 1997, March 1st marked the beginning of the Great Flood of 1997, which caused significant damage to many areas of North Dakota and neighboring states.
4. Lewis and Clark expedition: On March 1, 1805, the Lewis and Clark expedition passed by the area that would later become North Dakota. The explorers remarked on the natural beauty of the region and noted the presence of American Indians in the area.
5. First oil well: North Dakota's oil industry got its start on March 1, 1951, when the state's first commercial oil well was drilled near Tioga. This led to the development of the Bakken shale formation, which has made North Dakota a major player in the global oil market.