1. In 1924, North Dakota became the first state in the US to establish a state-owned bank. The Bank of North Dakota was created with the aim of promoting agriculture, commerce, and industry in the state. Today, it remains the only state-owned bank in the country.

2. On May 28, 1955, North Dakota experienced its most severe tornado outbreak in history. A total of 12 tornadoes touched down across the state, causing extensive damage to buildings, roads, and crops. Five people lost their lives and over 50 were injured.

3. In 1973, North Dakota governor William Guy signed a bill that abolished capital punishment in the state. North Dakota was the first state in the US to abolish the death penalty after the US Supreme Court reinstated it in 1972.

4. On May 28, 1980, the Devils Lake overflowed for the first time in over 50 years, causing widespread flooding in the surrounding areas. The flooding lasted for several months and caused millions of dollars in damage to farmland and homes.

5. In 2009, the North Dakota State Legislature passed a bill recognizing the State Fossil, the Teredo Petrified Wood. The fossil is over 60 million years old and is found in the western part of the state, near the towns of Medora and Williston.