1. In 1898, New Mexico Military Institute opened its doors for the first time on October 1. Located in Roswell, the institute is one of the oldest military schools in the western United States.

2. On October 1, 1906, the historic Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial was held for the first time. The event, which still takes place annually, celebrates the culture and traditions of Native American tribes from across the southwest.

3. In 1940, the Carlsbad Caverns National Park was established on October 1. The park, located in southeastern New Mexico, is home to one of the largest cave systems in the world.

4. On October 1, 1991, New Mexico became the 47th state to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a state holiday. The bill was signed into law by Governor Bruce King.

5. In 2009, on October 1, Governor Bill Richardson announced that the state of New Mexico would partner with Virgin Galactic to build the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport. The Spaceport America facility, located in southern New Mexico, is now home to multiple tenants and provides a launch site for private space exploration.