1. On August 11, 1736, Franciscan friar Francisco Atanasio Domínguez arrived in New Mexico. He was a well-traveled explorer and priest who helped map the region and wrote about his experiences in his journal.

2. The first Santa Fe Trail caravan to leave Missouri arrived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on August 11, 1821. This marked the beginning of increased trade and cultural exchange between the two regions.

3. The deadliest forest fire in New Mexico history occurred on August 11, 1951, when the so-called "Los Conchas Fire" started in the Jemez Mountains. It burned for over a month and destroyed more than 80,000 acres of forest before it was finally contained.

4. August 11, 1984, was the start of the first Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. This event has since become the largest hot air balloon festival in the world, drawing thousands of visitors and participants from around the globe each year.

5. On August 11, 2007, New Mexico's Gran Quivira ruins were declared a National Historic Landmark. These ruins, located near the modern-day town of Mountainair, are a testament to the rich and complex history of the indigenous peoples who inhabited the area centuries ago.