1. In 1890, South Dakota became the 40th state of the United States. It was admitted to the Union after a long struggle to gain statehood, including two unsuccessful attempts in 1885 and 1887.

2. In 1915, the famous explorer and naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton visited South Dakota to study wildlife in the Badlands. His observations of the local fauna and landscape helped to inspire his famous book "Wild Animals I Have Known."

3. In 1943, the South Dakota State Flying School was established at the Rapid City Army Air Base. The school provided advanced pilot training for Army Air Forces cadets during World War II and continued to operate until 1953.

4. In 1986, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognizing its cultural and historical significance as one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States.

5. In 2002, the Rapid City Rush ice hockey team played its first game in the Central Hockey League. The Rush became the first professional sports team in Rapid City since the Black Hills Gold baseball team in 1966.