1. The Battle of Gettysburg: Although it happened in Pennsylvania, July 3, 1863, marks the third and final day of the Battle of Gettysburg, a turning point in the Civil War. South Dakotans fought on both sides, including the famous 1st Regiment South Dakota Volunteer Infantry.

2. Gold was discovered in the Black Hills: On July 3, 1874, an expedition led by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer discovered gold in the Black Hills, triggering one of the largest gold rushes in American history. The discovery eventually led to the creation of the town of Deadwood and the formation of the state of South Dakota.

3. Mount Rushmore was dedicated: On July 3, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The monument features the faces of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

4. The pronghorn became South Dakota's state animal: On July 3, 2012, the pronghorn officially became the state animal of South Dakota, replacing the coyote. Sometimes referred to as antelope, pronghorns are actually the fastest land animal in North America, capable of running at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour.

5. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally: Although not technically a South Dakota historical event, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is an annual gathering held in the town of Sturgis, South Dakota, that has become a cultural icon. Beginning on the first Friday in August, the rally attracts hundreds of thousands of participants from all over the world and has been a staple of South Dakota's summer tourism industry since 1938.