1. In 1890, Wyoming became the 44th state to join the United States of America. This followed the territory's establishment in 1869 and more than two decades of political lobbying and debate over the state's status.

2. On October 21, 1948, Wyoming Governor Lester C. Hunt was the target of an assassination attempt. Hunt, a progressive Democrat whose platform included support for civil rights and organized labor, was shot and wounded outside his home in Cheyenne. Though he survived the attack, the incident underscored the political tensions of the era.

3. The Wyoming State Penitentiary, which was located in Rawlins, opened on October 21, 1901. The facility was notoriously harsh and overcrowded, with a reputation for brutal treatment of inmates. However, reforms and improvements over the years made it a more humane institution before it was ultimately closed in 1981.

4. In 1979, the University of Wyoming Symphony Orchestra made history by becoming the first American orchestra to perform in the People's Republic of China. The group toured several major cities, including Beijing, and received widespread acclaim for their performances. The tour helped to promote cultural exchange between the United States and China during a time of thawing relations between the two nations.

5. October 21, 1879, is the birth date of Wyoming's first female legislator, Esther Hobart Morris. Morris was a key figure in the state's women's suffrage movement and was appointed Justice of the Peace in South Pass City in 1870, becoming the first woman to hold a judicial office in the United States. She later served as a legislator and helped to push through laws that gave women the right to vote and hold public office.