1. On May 7, 1718, Franciscan friars established the San Antonio de Padua Mission in present-day Bernalillo, New Mexico. The mission served as a center for religious, cultural, and economic activities for the native Pueblo people.

2. In 1823, American explorer Stephen Long reached the Pecos River in southeastern New Mexico, marking the first documented entry of a non-Spanish European into the region. Long's expedition paved the way for further American exploration and settlement of the area.

3. On May 7, 1846, during the Mexican-American War, New Mexican rebels, led by Governor Manuel Armijo, fought against American troops under the command of Colonel Stephen W. Kearny. The Battle of Peralta ended in a victory for the Americans, who went on to occupy Santa Fe and claim New Mexico as US territory.

4. In 1868, renowned American artist and illustrator Thomas Moran made his first trip to the American Southwest, including New Mexico. Moran's sketches and paintings of the region helped to popularize Western landscapes and inspire the conservation movement.

5. May 7, 1961 marked the opening of the first McDonald's restaurant in New Mexico, located in Albuquerque. The fast-food chain became a popular fixture in the state and helped to shape the modern American dining landscape.