1. The Battle of White River - On December 3, 1876, a military engagement took place between the United States Army and a band of Sioux Indians in what is now South Dakota. The Battle of White River resulted in a victory for the army and effectively ended the Great Sioux War of 1876.

2. Statehood - South Dakota officially became a state on November 2, 1889, but it wasn't until December 3 of that year that President Benjamin Harrison signed the proclamation admitting the state to the Union. South Dakota was the 40th state to join the United States.

3. Blizzard of 1887 - On December 3, 1887, a severe blizzard swept across the Great Plains, including South Dakota. The storm dumped more than a foot of snow in some areas, and winds gusting to 50 miles per hour created drifts that blocked roads and trains. The blizzard caused widespread damage and loss of life in the region.

4. Wounded Knee Massacre - On December 3, 1890, a tragic event took place at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. Soldiers from the U.S. Army's Seventh Cavalry opened fire on a group of approximately 350 Sioux Indians, including women and children. The incident, which has been referred to as a massacre, resulted in the deaths of around 150 Sioux.

5. First woman governor - In 1925, South Dakota made history when it elected its first woman governor. Nellie Tayloe Ross, a Democrat, served two terms as governor from 1925 to 1927. Ross went on to become the first woman to serve as the director of the United States Mint, appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933.