1. On July 26, 1820, Maine officially became the 23rd state in the United States. After separating from Massachusetts, Maine was admitted as a free state, helping to maintain the balance of power between free and slave states in the country.

2. On July 26, 1863, the Battle of Little Round Top took place during the American Civil War. Maine soldiers played a crucial role in defending the strategic hill in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, helping to turn the tide of the battle in favor of the Union army.

3. In 1918, a massive fire broke out in the town of Bar Harbor, Maine on July 26, destroying much of the town and leaving thousands homeless. The fire was caused by a spark from a cigarette in a movie theater and burned for three days, causing over $2 million in damages.

4. On July 26, 1943, the USS Portland, a heavy cruiser named after the city of Portland, Maine, was commissioned into the United States Navy. The ship served in World War II and saw action in the Pacific before being decommissioned in 1946.

5. In 1993, the Great Lobster Crate Race was held in the town of Deer Isle, Maine on July 26. The event, which involves contestants racing across lobster crates floating in the water, has been held annually since 1976 and is a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike.