1. On October 18, 1867, the first public school in Montana was opened in Virginia City, Montana. It was taught by Miss Mary L. Tracy, who had been hired by the Montana Territory's first superintendent of public education.

2. On October 18, 1902, the first issue of the Montana Standard, a daily newspaper in Butte, Montana, was published. It was founded by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company and became one of the largest newspapers in Montana.

3. On October 18, 1915, The Great Northern Railway completed construction of the Marias Pass, which allowed trains to travel over the Rocky Mountains in Montana. The pass was named after the nearby Marias River and shortened the trip between eastern and western Montana by 150 miles.

4. On October 18, 1930, Montana State University (then known as Montana State College) dedicated its current campus in Bozeman, Montana. The campus was designed by renowned architect Robert B. Reamer, who also designed Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park.

5. On October 18, 1984, Montana's first gubernatorial debate took place between the Democratic nominee, Governor Ted Schwinden, and the Republican nominee, State Senator Bob Woodahl. The debate, held at Montana State University, was broadcast statewide and covered topics such as education, natural resource management, and economic development.