1. On August 31, 1968, a massive forest fire known as the Moose Complex Fire started in the Lolo National Forest in western Montana. The fire burned over 6,100 acres and destroyed several homes before it was contained on September 5.

2. August 31, 1919, marked the opening of the Lockey Park Zoo in Great Falls, Montana. The zoo featured a wide variety of animals, including bears, lions, monkeys, and zebras. It remained open until the late 1920s when financial difficulties forced its closure.

3. In 1883, the Northern Pacific Railroad completed its line through Montana, connecting the state to the rest of the country. August 31 marked the completion of the line between Miles City and Glendive, further opening up the eastern part of the state to settlement and commerce.

4. August 31, 1951, saw the dedication of the Libby Dam on the Kootenai River in northwestern Montana. The dam, which was the second-largest concrete dam in the world at that time, provided hydroelectric power and helped to regulate water flows for irrigation and flood control.

5. In 1867, the great Western artist Charles M. Russell was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Russell moved to Montana in 1880 and spent much of his life documenting the region's history and its people through his paintings and sculptures. August 31 marks his birthday and is celebrated today as Charles M. Russell Day.