1. Wyoming officially became a state on October 10, 1890, making it the 44th state in the United States.

2. In 1985, four Wyoming State University students were killed and six others injured when their van collided with a train near Laramie. The accident resulted in a statewide mobilization to improve railroad safety.

3. On October 10, 1918, the deadliest pandemic in history, the Spanish Flu, arrived in Wyoming. The virus ultimately killed more than 4,000 residents in the state.

4. In 1924, the first national park in the United States was established in Wyoming. Yellowstone National Park, known for its geysers, hot springs, and wildlife, draws millions of visitors each year.

5. On October 10, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay college student, was brutally beaten and left to die near Laramie. The incident sparked national conversation about hate crimes and LGBTQ+ rights. Shepard's death inspired the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which was signed into law in 2009.