1. Maine became a state on March 15, 1820, but it wasn't until March 19, 1820 that Congress officially admitted Maine to the Union as the 23rd state.
2. On March 19, 1842, the Great Gale of 1842 struck Maine and caused widespread damage along the coast. In Portland, waves up to 40 feet high destroyed ships and buildings, and the storm surge flooded the city's streets.
3. The Maine House of Representatives passed a resolution on March 19, 1857 condemning the Supreme Court's decision in the Dred Scott case, which held that African Americans could not be United States citizens. The resolution stated that the people of Maine "recognize the doctrine of the Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal."
4. The Maine Legislature approved a bill on March 19, 1969 that lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. The law went into effect in time for the 1970 elections.
5. On March 19, 2012, the Maine Department of Marine Resources closed a portion of the state's coastline to scallop fishing due to depleted populations. The closure affected areas from Lubec to Roque Island, and was intended to allow scallop populations to rebuild.