1. In 1996, North Dakota celebrated the 100th anniversary of the state's first capitol building, which was completed on October 18, 1896. The building is now a state historic site and open to the public for tours.

2. On October 18, 1941, the University of North Dakota hosted a dedication ceremony for its new Memorial Stadium. The stadium was built in honor of the UND students who lost their lives in World War I.

3. North Dakota celebrated its centennial on October 18, 1989. The state was admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, but the centennial was held on the anniversary of the state's first constitutional convention.

4. In 2007, North Dakota's only wild elk herd was reintroduced to the Pembina Hills. The herd was brought in from the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and has since flourished in the area.

5. On October 18, 1936, Great Plains Airlines began operations in Fargo, North Dakota. The airline offered passenger service to several midwestern cities and remained in operation until 1997 when it was acquired by Mesa Airlines.