1. Pueblo Revolt
December 16, 1680, marked a significant event in New Mexico history - the Pueblo Revolt. The Native American tribes united and overthrew the Spanish colonizers who had occupied their land for over eighty years. The revolt resulted in the expulsion of the Spanish from the region and the establishment of Pueblo self-rule.

2. Admission of New Mexico as a State
On December 16, 1912, New Mexico was officially admitted as the 47th state of the United States of America. The admission was the culmination of years of struggles and negotiations that saw the territory overcome various obstacles on its path to statehood.

3. WIPP Accident
On December 16, 2013, an accident occurred at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The underground repository for nuclear waste experienced a radiation leak that resulted in the contamination of 22 workers. The incident raised concerns about the safety of nuclear waste storage and led to a suspension of operations at the WIPP for several years.

4. Billy the Kid’s Capture
One of the most notorious events in New Mexico history was the capture of Billy the Kid on December 16, 1880. After years of evading the law, the infamous outlaw was finally apprehended and taken into custody by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Stinking Springs, near Fort Sumner.

5. Apache Warrior’s Surrender
On December 16, 1886, Geronimo, the famous Apache warrior, surrendered to General Nelson Miles at Skeleton Canyon in southern New Mexico. The surrender marked the end of the Apache Wars and the beginning of a new era of relations between the Native American tribes and U.S. government.