1. In 1877, Chief Joseph and his Nez Perce tribe were chased through Montana by U.S. Army troops led by General Oliver O. Howard. On October 21, the two sides clashed in a fierce battle at the mouth of the Bear Paw Mountains, just 30 miles from the Canadian border. Despite putting up a valiant defense, the Nez Perce were ultimately defeated and forced to surrender.

2. October 21, 1895 marked the birth of Montana's first and only woman governor, Ella T. C. Schott. She served as governor from 1925 to 1927, and oversaw major reforms in the state's penal system during her tenure.

3. The town of Twin Bridges, Montana was incorporated on October 21, 1904. The town, located in Madison County, is known for its historic bridges and fly fishing opportunities.

4. On October 21, 1948, President Harry Truman made a campaign stop in Great Falls, Montana. He delivered a fiery speech attacking the Republican Party and promoting his own domestic agenda, which included expanding Social Security and enacting civil rights legislation.

5. In 2005, on October 21, a rare meteorite fell from the sky and crash-landed near the town of Rudyard, Montana. The meteorite, which weighed 1,435 pounds, was the largest ever recorded in the state and sparked widespread interest among scientists and amateur collectors alike.