1. In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited South Dakota as part of a nationwide tour to promote his New Deal programs. During his visit, he delivered a speech in front of the statehouse in Pierre, and also visited the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

2. On June 17, 1964, the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in the case of Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States. The ruling upheld the constitutionality of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its ban on racial discrimination in public accommodations.

3. In 1992, the Black Hills Flood devastated the town of Rapid City and surrounding areas. The flood claimed 238 lives and caused over $160 million in damage. June 17 marked the beginning of several days of heavy rainfall that worsened the flooding.

4. On June 17, 2001, the Oahe Dam in central South Dakota celebrated its 40th anniversary. The dam, which stands 245 feet tall and stretches over a mile long, provides hydroelectric power and flood control for the region.

5. In 2013, South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard signed a bill that made the state the first in the nation to allow teachers to carry firearms in schools. The controversial law went into effect on July 1 of that year, and has remained a topic of debate in the state and nationally.