1. On May 10, 1869, the final spike of the Transcontinental Railroad was driven into the ground at Promontory Summit, Utah, connecting the eastern and western United States for the first time. While not directly related to Montana, the completion of the railroad had a significant impact on the state's development and economy.

2. In 1876, the Battle of Powder River occurred in what is now southeastern Montana. It was a skirmish between the United States Army and Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne warriors, and is considered one of the first battles of the Great Sioux War of 1876-77.

3. May 10, 1908, is the birthdate of legendary Montana conservationist and author, Joseph Kinsey Howard. Howard's book, "Montana: High, Wide, and Handsome," became a classic representation of the state's history and culture, and helped inspire a new generation of conservationists to protect Montana's natural resources.

4. Montana State University in Bozeman was founded on May 10, 1893, as the Montana Agricultural College. Over the years, the institution has grown into a comprehensive university with more than 16,000 students and a reputation for excellence in research and education.

5. On May 10, 1996, Kristin Smart, a student at California Polytechnic State University, disappeared while walking home from a party. Her case remains unsolved to this day, but a prime suspect, Paul Flores, was recently arrested and charged with murder. Despite the fact that Smart's disappearance did not occur in Montana, the case has sparked renewed interest in the issue of campus safety nationwide.