1951: Sally Ride, one of the first women hired by NASA to become an astronaut, was born in Encino, California. She died of pancreatic cancer on July 23, 2012. Sally Ride’s place in history was assured on June 18, 1983, when she rocketed into space on Challenger’s STS-7 mission with four male crewmates. Her contribution to America’s space program continued right up until her death. (Source: NASA)

1864: President Lincoln signed an enabling act creating the Territory of Montana. Twenty-five years later, on November 8, 1889, Montana became the forty-first state. (Source: Library of Congress)