1. North Dakota became a state on September 2, 1890, and today is celebrated as Statehood Day. The state's original constitution was adopted on this day, and President Benjamin Harrison signed the proclamation admitting North Dakota as the 39th state in the Union.

2. The town of Minot, North Dakota, was founded on September 2, 1886, by a railroad surveyor named James J. Hill. The town was named after Henry D. Minot, who was a friend of Hill and a local civil engineer.

3. On September 2, 1950, the University of North Dakota football team played its first game at Memorial Stadium in Grand Forks. The stadium, which still stands today, has been the home of the UND Fighting Hawks football team for over 70 years.

4. In 1924, the first airplane landed in Mott, North Dakota, on September 2. The pilot was Barnstormer Ivan Gates, who flew a biplane in a show for the small town. This event marked the beginning of aviation in Mott and inspired many local residents to learn how to fly.

5. The Lewis and Clark expedition arrived in what is now North Dakota on September 2, 1804, after traveling up the Missouri River from St. Louis. The explorers spent several months in the area, documenting the flora and fauna and interacting with local Native American tribes. This expedition helped to open up the West for settlement and exploration.