1. In 1890, the last major conflict between the United States government and Native American tribes occurred at the Battle of Wounded Knee in South Dakota. This tragic event resulted in the deaths of nearly 300 Native Americans, including women and children.

2. On October 25, 1927, Mount Rushmore National Memorial was dedicated in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The massive sculpture features the faces of former United States presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

3. In 1941, the United States Army Air Forces activated the 41st Bombardment Group at Rapid City Army Air Base in South Dakota. The group served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, flying bombing missions against Japanese targets.

4. South Dakota native Tom Brokaw, who went on to become a renowned television journalist, was born on October 25, 1940, in Webster, South Dakota.

5. On October 25, 2005, a massive snowstorm known as the "October Surprise" hit South Dakota, dumping up to three feet of snow in some areas. The storm caused widespread power outages and led to the closure of many highways and schools.