1. On May 27, 1937, the Black Hills Passion Play had its opening night in Spearfish, South Dakota. The play is the oldest continuously running Passion Play in America, and it still draws visitors from all over the country.

2. On May 27, 1972, a severe thunderstorm caused a flash flood in Rapid City, South Dakota, killing 238 people and causing millions of dollars in damage. It remains one of the deadliest floods in American history.

3. On May 27, 1880, the first census of Black Hills residents was taken, showing a population of 14,002. The census was taken just one year after gold was discovered in the area, sparking a gold rush that would bring thousands of miners and settlers to the region.

4. On May 27, 1898, the USS Oregon pulled into the port of San Francisco, having completed a journey from New York in just 66 days. The ship was famous for its role in the Spanish-American War, and its journey around South America to reach the warzone was seen as a major engineering feat at the time.

5. On May 27, 1921, the South Dakota State Capitol building in Pierre was dedicated. The massive structure, which cost over $2 million to build at the time, is still one of the largest capitol buildings in the country.