1. In 1889, South Dakota was admitted as the 40th state in the United States. The state had been inhabited by American Indians for centuries before it was explored by European descendants and later became a part of Dakota Territory in 1861.

2. On December 8, 1906, the city of Aberdeen was devastated by a fire that destroyed dozens of buildings and caused millions of dollars in damage. Over 2,000 residents were left homeless, and many of them received aid and support from neighboring towns.

3. In 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, drawing the United States into World War II. Many South Dakotans enlisted in the military and served in various capacities throughout the war, contributing to efforts both at home and abroad.

4. On December 8, 1981, notorious serial killer Charles "Chuck" Rhoades was executed in the South Dakota State Penitentiary. Rhoades had been convicted of murdering four people, and is known for having been one of the first inmates executed in the United States after the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.

5. In 2002, South Dakota senator Tom Daschle was chosen as the Democratic Party's Minority Leader in the U.S. Senate. Daschle, who had previously served as both a U.S. Representative and senator from South Dakota, became a prominent figure in national politics during his time in Congress.