1. In 1819, Maine became the 23rd state of the United States. This was after it had split from Massachusetts as part of the Missouri Compromise, which allowed Maine to join the Union as a free state while Missouri became a slave state.
2. In 1947, the University of Maine at Fort Kent was founded as a two-year institution. It later expanded to a four-year college and now offers graduate degrees as well.
3. In 1971, the first Brunswick Outdoor Arts Festival was held in Brunswick, Maine. It has since become an annual event featuring local artists, musicians, food vendors, and more.
4. On September 26, 1980, the passenger ferry The Prince of Fundy collided with a tanker in dense fog off the coast of Maine. 16 people were killed and it remains one of the worst maritime disasters in the state's history.
5. In 1996, the Maine Humanities Council launched a program called "Let's Talk About It: A Discussion Series on Women's Lives" aimed at exploring women's experiences throughout history and literature. The program has since been replicated in other states and continues to spark conversations and new perspectives.