1. Montana became a state on May 24, 1889. The state's road towards statehood was a long and difficult one. The territory faced significant resistance from Congress due to its small population and its reputation for being a heavily lawless and violent region. In spite of all these, Montana persevered and was eventually recognized as the 41st state of the United States.

2. On May 24, 1868, the Treaty of Fort Laramie was signed, which established the Great Sioux Reservation in Montana. The treaty was designed to end the conflict between the United States and various Native American tribes. However, the treaty was plagued by implementation and enforcement issues, leading to further clashes and turmoil in the region.

3. On May 24, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted, resulting in the deaths of 57 people and causing massive damage to the surrounding area. Though the eruption occurred in Washington, Montana felt its effects as well. In fact, ash from the volcano was observed as far away as eastern Montana, over 400 miles from the eruption site.

4. The Montana National Guard was created on May 24, 1869, by Governor Green Clay Smith. The National Guard consists of both Army and Air National Guard units, which can be called into service by either the governor of Montana or the president of the United States.

5. The Flathead Irrigation Project was authorized on May 24, 1906. The project was designed to provide water to farms in the Flathead Reservation, which had previously been dry and unsuitable for agriculture. The irrigation project allowed the reservation to prosper, and the land became an important source of food and income for the surrounding communities.