1. On March 30, 1849, Governor Charles Bent of New Mexico was killed by a group of Pueblo Indians in retaliation for his harsh policies. Bent was the first American governor of New Mexico and had been appointed by President James K. Polk. His death led to the Taos Revolt, which lasted for several days and resulted in the deaths of several other Americans.

2. The first train arrived in Santa Fe on March 30, 1880. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF) had completed construction of its line to the city, which opened up a new era of transportation and commerce for New Mexico. The ATSF played a major role in the state's development over the next century.

3. On March 30, 1903, the New Mexico Territorial Legislature passed a law creating the State Normal School in Las Vegas. The school, which later became New Mexico Highlands University, was intended to train teachers for the state's public schools. Today, it is a comprehensive university offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs.

4. The first successful rocket launch from White Sands Missile Range took place on March 30, 1951. The rocket was a modified V-2 missile, which had been developed by Nazi Germany during World War II. The launch marked the beginning of a new era in rocketry and space exploration, and White Sands continues to be a major center for missile and spacecraft testing.

5. On March 30, 1981, John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C. Hinckley was from Colorado but had spent time in New Mexico, where he had purchased the handgun he used in the shooting. Hinckley's motive was to impress the actress Jodie Foster, whom he had become obsessed with after seeing her in the movie "Taxi Driver." The incident raised questions about mental illness and gun control, and led to changes in presidential security protocols.