1. On September 22, 1786, Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, was founded by Spanish settlers. It became the oldest capital city in the United States and remains an important cultural center in the American Southwest.

2. In 1862, during the American Civil War, Union forces led by General Edward R.S. Canby captured Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico at the time. This victory helped secure the region for the Union and ensured that New Mexico would remain in the Union during the war.

3. On September 22, 1928, the world-famous artist Georgia O'Keeffe arrived in New Mexico for the first time. She fell in love with the state's rugged beauty and unique light and spent the rest of her life there, creating some of her most iconic paintings.

4. In 1970, the University of New Mexico's Arts and Sciences Building was bombed by a radical activist group called the Weather Underground. The attack caused significant damage to the building but no fatalities or serious injuries. The incident remains a reminder of the turbulent political climate of the era.

5. September 22, 1999, marked the debut of the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, an annual event that attracts thousands of hot air balloon enthusiasts from around the world. The fiesta has become a beloved tradition in New Mexico and a major economic boon for Albuquerque and the surrounding area.