1. In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was signed, which included the land that would become New Mexico. This acquisition doubled the size of the United States and paved the way for westward expansion.

2. In 1850, the United States government established the New Mexico Territory. This move was part of a broader effort to organize and govern the western territories in the wake of the Mexican-American War.

3. In 1889, the University of New Mexico was founded in Albuquerque. Today, the university boasts a range of academic programs and research initiatives and has a student population of approximately 27,000.

4. In 1947, the Roswell Incident occurred. This event involved the alleged crash of an extraterrestrial spacecraft near Roswell, New Mexico, and has been a subject of much debate and speculation in the years since.

5. In 2012, New Mexico became the 17th state to legalize medical marijuana. The state's medical cannabis program allows patients with certain conditions to use marijuana as a treatment option with a doctor's recommendation.