1) In 1881, the Black Hills Forest Reserve was established in South Dakota by President Chester Arthur. This protected over one million acres of land and would later become part of the Black Hills National Forest.

2) On May 20, 1927, Charles Lindbergh completed the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. He took off from Roosevelt Field in New York and landed in Paris, France, 33.5 hours later. Lindbergh's daring feat became the talk of the nation and made him an international hero.

3) In 1936, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was held for the first time in Sturgis, South Dakota. The event attracts over 500,000 people every year and has become a major tourist attraction for the area.

4) On May 20, 1961, Governor Ralph Herseth signed the South Dakota Civil Rights Act into law. This made South Dakota the first state in the country to pass a comprehensive civil rights act.

5) The Crazy Horse Memorial, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, began construction on May 20, 1948. This massive monument is still in progress and, when completed, will be the largest mountain carving in the world. It is dedicated to the legendary Lakota leader Crazy Horse and his people.