1. In 1805, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark arrived at the confluence of the Missouri and Marias rivers in what is now Montana. This event marked a significant milestone in the Lewis and Clark Expedition and led to the naming of the Marias River.

2. On September 3, 1869, the famous mountain man, Jim Bridger, passed away in Kansas City, Missouri. Bridger played an instrumental role in the exploration and settlement of the American West, including parts of what is now Montana.

3. In 1908, the first Montana State Fair was held in Helena. The fair has since become an annual event, showcasing the state's agricultural industry and providing entertainment for visitors from around the region.

4. On September 3, 1910, a massive wildfire broke out in the Bitterroot Valley in western Montana. The fire burned for two days, consuming over 3 million acres of forest and claiming the lives of 85 people. The event is now known as the Big Burn and remains one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history.

5. In 1962, James Meredith, the first African American student to attend the University of Mississippi, was temporarily detained in Missoula, Montana, during a cross-country civil rights campaign. The incident sparked controversy and raised awareness of civil rights issues in Montana and throughout the nation.