1. Maine became the 23rd state on November 8, 1820, when President James Monroe signed the Missouri Compromise, which allowed for Maine to be admitted to the Union as a free state.

2. On November 8, 1881, the shipwreck of the Annie C. Maguire on the coast of Maine led to the dramatic rescue of all 27 people aboard, thanks to the heroic efforts of the United States Life-Saving Service.

3. One of Maine's most secretive military bases, the Cutler Naval Station, officially began operation on November 8, 1961, as part of the Cold War-era "Sound Surveillance System" that aimed to detect Soviet submarines.

4. The Maine State House held a special joint session on November 8, 1979, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the death of Revolutionary War hero Joseph Warren, who played a key role in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

5. On November 8, 2016, Maine became one of four states to legalize recreational marijuana, with voters narrowly approving Question 1 by a margin of 3,995 votes. However, implementation of the law was delayed due to concerns about the federal government's stance on the issue.