1. In 1905, the Las Vegas Daily Optic reported that a hailstorm struck the city, causing significant damage to crops and buildings. The hailstones were reportedly the size of grapes and caused a lot of destruction.

2. On July 31, 1914, the first edition of the Roswell Daily Record was published. The paper is still in circulation to this day and is the oldest daily newspaper in southeast New Mexico.

3. In 1931, the United States Forest Service established the Gila Wilderness in southwestern New Mexico. It was the first designated wilderness area in the country, covering over 500,000 acres of land.

4. The New Mexico state constitution was ratified on July 31, 1911. It was the first constitution created after New Mexico became a state in 1912 and played an important role in shaping the state's political landscape.

5. On July 31, 1945, the Trinity Test took place in Alamogordo, New Mexico. It was the first explosion of an atomic bomb and marked a major milestone in the development of nuclear weapons. The test site is now part of the White Sands Missile Range and is open to the public.