1. On April 13, 1782, a Spanish expedition arrived in what is now known as Albuquerque, New Mexico. Led by Governor Juan Bautista de Anza, the expedition was sent to establish a new settlement in the area.

2. In 1829, the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre occurred on April 13. A group of Mormons, along with some Native American allies, attacked and killed a wagon train of non-Mormon settlers traveling through southern Utah.

3. On April 13, 1945, a group of Japanese prisoners of war attempted to escape from a prison camp in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The attempt was unsuccessful, with five of the prisoners being killed and several others injured.

4. In 1954, the first successful ascent of a 14,000-foot peak in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains was made on April 13. The peak, named Kit Carson Mountain, had been attempted several times before but was finally conquered by a team of climbers.

5. On April 13, 2000, the largest wildfire in New Mexico's history broke out in the Gila National Forest. The fire burned over 220,000 acres and forced the evacuation of several communities in the area before it was finally contained a month later.