1. The Battle of Whitestone Hill was fought on October 2, 1863, during the Dakota War of 1862. The battle was fought between the United States Army and a confederation of Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota Native American tribes. The US Army emerged victorious, and the battle resulted in the deaths of an estimated 150-300 Native Americans.

2. October 2, 1889, is the date that South Dakota was admitted as the 40th state in the United States. The state was formed from the Dakota Territory, which was divided into North and South Dakota.

3. In 1920, South Dakota became the first state to grant women the right to vote by popular referendum. Prior to this, women's suffrage had been granted in several states through legislative action or court decisions.

4. On October 2, 1962, the world was on the brink of nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis. At Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, B-52 bomber crews were put on high alert and prepared to launch a nuclear strike against the Soviet Union if ordered to do so.

5. South Dakota is home to several important Native American sites, including Bear Butte, a sacred mountain to the Lakota people. On October 2, 1978, Bear Butte was declared a National Historic Landmark. The site is now a state park and is open to visitors who wish to learn more about its cultural significance.