1. In 1863, the Idaho Territory was established by an act signed by President Abraham Lincoln. This marked a significant moment in Idaho’s history as it paved the way for the state’s eventual admission into the Union.

2. On May 28, 1918, a catastrophic fire destroyed the town of Lava Hot Springs, located in southeastern Idaho. The fire started in a blacksmith shop and quickly spread, ultimately destroying more than 30 structures and causing millions of dollars in damage.

3. In 1929, a group of students from the University of Idaho successfully completed the world’s first glider flight using a bungee cord launch. Professor R.J. Cole designed the glider and supervised the students, who launched from a hillside near Moscow, Idaho.

4. The first recorded ascent of Borah Peak, Idaho’s highest mountain, took place on May 28, 1912. A party of seven climbers, led by William R. Putnam, reached the summit after a grueling four-day climb through snow and ice.

5. On May 28, 1954, the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) was established as the National Reactor Testing Station. The INEEL, located in southeastern Idaho, has been a major contributor to nuclear power research and development in the United States.