1. In 1864, a battle occurred between the United States Army and Native American tribes in Montana known as the Battle of Cedar Creek. It resulted in the death of several Native Americans and the capture of their horses, but also marked a shift in power from the Native Americans to the Army in the region.

2. On October 19, 1889, Montana became the 41st state admitted to the Union. It was the first state added to the United States since the Reconstruction era following the Civil War.

3. The Hi-Line (a region of northern Montana) experienced a devastating blizzard on October 19, 1917, which killed hundreds of people and left thousands stranded in the bitter cold. It is still considered one of the worst weather disasters in Montana history.

4. On this day in 1956, the first ever Montana-Idaho College Rodeo was held in Missoula, Montana. It was intended to bring together college students from both states to compete in the rodeo events of calf roping, bareback horse riding, steer wrestling, and bull riding.

5. In 1978, the deadliest plane crash in Montana history occurred on October 19. A Pacific Western Airlines flight crashed into a mountain near Butte, killing all 39 passengers and crew members on board. The cause of the crash was attributed to poor weather conditions and miscommunication between the flight crew and air traffic control.