May 12, 1950

Red River flood crested at 45.79 feet.

May 14, 1889

Delegates elected to state constitutional convention -- a requisite for statehood later in the same year. The convention was called for July 4.

May 16, 1871

Joseph Rolette died at Pembina.

May 17, 1801

Alexander Henry selected spot for building fort at Pembina.

May 17, 1876

Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer left Fort Abraham Lincoln on the Little Big Horn campaign.

May 19, 1742

Sons of Pierre Verendrye, the explorer, visited Mandan Indians on their search for a western sea near high mountains.

May 20, 1862

Homestead Act became effective.

May 22, 1869

Sioux-Arikara battle fought at site of Washburn.

May 22, 1934

Trial of William Langer and others on charges of violating federal political contribution law began at Bismarck.

May 22, 1888

North Dakota Medical Association organized at Grand Forks with Dr. J.G. Millspaugh of Park River as its first president.

May 26, 1872

Troops withdrawn from old Fort Ransom.

May 28, 1963

Patrons of the Central Valley School District agreed on a site for a new high school, midway between Buxton and Reynolds after a long controversy.

May 27, 1872

At Jamestown, then known as the James River crossing, Fort Seward was established for the protection of railway construction crews. It existed as a fort for only five years.

May 31, 1963

Dedication of Twamley Hall, administration building at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks; it replaced Old Main, first building at the university.

June 1, 1873

The first Americans arrived at Pembina to join the Canadian Army in a survey of the northern border. The survey, started in 1872 by the Canadians, continued until 1876.

June 3, 1883

Territorial legislators choose Bismarck for capital.

June 4, 1949

Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park, the country's only national memorial park at that time, was dedicated at Medora in the Badlands of western North Dakota.

June 5, 1873

First train arrives in Bismarck.

June 7, 1893

Fire burned almost entire business section of Fargo.

June 8, 1872

First NP train crossed Red River to Fargo.

June 10, 1880

Congress enacted a law throwing the military reservations of Forts Abercrombie, Ransom and Seward open to homestead entry. All had been vacated earlier.

June 12, 1843

J.J. Audubon arrived at Fort Union at the mouth of the Yellowstone River for a two-month sojourn, during which he completed work on two major nature studies, "Quadrupeds of North America" and "Birds of America."

June 14, 1934

Federal court jury convicted Gov. William Langer of violating federal political contribution law.

June 15, 1866

Construction began on Fort Buford, at the mouth of the Yellowstone River in western North Dakota. It was here that Sitting Bull surrendered in 1881.

June 15, 1889

North Dakota Press Association reorganized at Fargo.

June 14, 1872

Fort McKeen was established as an infantry post. Later the same year it was replaced by the cavalry post, Fort Abraham Lincoln. It was Custer's home for several years.

June 18, 1867

For protection of rail construction workers, Fort Ransom was established on the Sheyenne River.

June 20, 1966

President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the bill establishing the Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site.

June 20, 1957

Fargo hit by tornado that killed 10, injured more than 100, and destroyed or damaged 1,400 homes.

June 22, 1922

Alexander McKenzie died in St. Paul, Minnesota.

June 23, 1952

Dr. W.T. Thom, Princeton University chairman of geology, returns to North Dakota 40 years after geological discoveries that led him to give the Williston Basin its name.

June 24, 1908

First statewide primary election (for U.S. senator) held. T.F. Marshall ties M.N. Johnson. Johnson declared nominee in second primary.

June 25, 1876

Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and his immediate command were annihilated by Indians consisting largely of the Sioux at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

June 26, 1919

Bank of North Dakota founded.

June 26, 1952

Service Pipeline Company announced it would build a pipeline from oil fields near Tioga to refinery being built at Mandan.

June 27, 1910

Proposal to repeal state prohibition rejected by voters.

June 28, 1916

Nonpartisan League endorsees won overwhelmingly in the first Republican primary in which the League endorsed candidates.

July 1, 1933

John C. West began his duties as the new president of the University of North Dakota.

July 1, 1934

Street car service, operated at Grand Forks since 1905, was abandoned.

July 1, 1941

New oil law concerning regulation on production of oil and gas in North Dakota became effective. It was repealed and replaced by a new law, which took effect July 1, 1953.

July 1, 1965

The former Wesley College at Grand Forks became the Wesley Center of Religion, with the University of North Dakota purchasing its dormitories.

July 1, 1933

Sale of 3.2 beer was legalized in North Dakota.

July 1, 1899

A law permitting divorces to be granted after 90-day residence within the state expired. North Dakota had become a national divorce mecca under the law.

July 1, 1966

The Fort Totten Indian Reservation was raised from sub-agency to agency status, with James B. Cornett taking over as agency superintendent.

July 1, 1940

The Rural Electrification Administration announced a $60,000 loan to Minnkota Power Cooperative to build a generating plant at Grand Forks.

July 1, 1935

A tornado caused four deaths in McKenzie and Mountrail Counties.

July 1, 1917

Importation of liquor into North Dakota became illegal, even for personal use, under the so-called "Bone Dry Law."

July 1, 1969

Forty years after he became publisher of the Grand Forks Herald, M.M. Oppegard stepped down as publisher and editor of the newspaper. Ralph Roth became publisher, and Jack Hagerty executive editor.

July 1, 1890

The prohibition section of the North Dakota Constitution became effective.

July 1, 1929

Ridder Publications and the late M.M. Oppegard became the owners of The Grand Forks Herald after purchasing it from J.F. Bacon and associates.