1. In 1892, South Dakota held its first-ever State Fair in Huron. The event attracted 12,000 visitors and showcased various agricultural exhibits including crops, livestock, and homemade goods.

2. In 1916, the state's first-ever national park, Wind Cave National Park, was established near Hot Springs. The park is known for its unique calcite formations and underground waterways.

3. On October 16, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Oahe Dam in Pierre. The dam was built to provide hydroelectric power and irrigation for the region's farms.

4. In 1976, South Dakota became the first state to elect a woman as Governor. Democrat Ella T. Grasso was elected as the state's 31st Governor, defeating Republican incumbent Thomas Meskill.

5. On October 16, 2003, Rapid City-based Ellsworth Air Force Base was announced as the new home of the Air Force's B-1 bomber fleet. The move brought nearly 2,000 new military personnel and their families to the area.