1. In 1943, the U.S. Army constructed the Rapid City Army Air Base in South Dakota in response to the need for training pilots during World War II.

2. On March 31, 1972, the historic Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota was designated as a National Historic Landmark due to its unique architecture and cultural significance.

3. In 1998, South Dakota became the last state in the U.S. to enact a law establishing a state lottery. The first lottery ticket was sold on April 8 of that year.

4. On March 31, 2002, a massive snowstorm hit South Dakota, dumping more than 20 inches of snow in some areas and causing widespread power outages and traffic accidents.

5. South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore National Memorial, which features the likenesses of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt, was dedicated on March 31, 1929. The monument was created by artist Gutzon Borglum and a team of workers over a period of 14 years.