1. On March 28, 1854, the first recorded settlement in Missoula was established. The town was originally named "Hellgate Village" and later changed to Missoula in honor of the Salish Chief Misootsa who helped the early settlers.

2. In 1878, the Northern Pacific Railway arrived in Montana, connecting the state to the rest of the country. This helped Montana's economy grow and led to an influx of new settlers.

3. On March 28, 1891, the Montana State Capitol building was completed in Helena. It is one of the few state capitol buildings in the country to be built entirely of sandstone.

4. In 1941, Montana became the first state to legalize snowmobiles for recreational use. Snowmobiling continues to be a popular winter activity in Montana's backcountry.

5. On March 28, 1979, the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania experienced a partial meltdown, causing concern among Montana residents about the safety of the Montana Power Company's nuclear plants. The incident led to changes in safety regulations for nuclear power plants nationwide.