Here are five interesting facts about April 18 in New Mexico history:

1. In 1862, the Battle of Peralta was fought in Valencia County during the American Civil War. Union forces, led by Colonel Edward Canby, engaged Confederate troops under General Henry Hopkins Sibley. The battle ended in a Union victory, ensuring that Confederate forces would not advance further into New Mexico.

2. In 1906, the Santa Fe Railroad opened its Grand Canyon Line, bringing tourism to northern Arizona and connecting Santa Fe with the Grand Canyon National Park. The line featured the famous "Fred Harvey" hotels and restaurants, which provided lodging and meals to passengers during their journey.

3. In 1912, New Mexico Governor William C. McDonald signed a bill granting women the right to vote, making it one of the first states in the country to do so. Women in New Mexico were able to vote in the presidential election that year, several years before the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified.

4. In 1942, the U.S. Army opened the Alamogordo Bombing Range, now known as the White Sands Missile Range, in southern New Mexico. The range has served as a testing ground for numerous missile and rocket systems, including the V-2 missile developed by the Germans during World War II.

5. In 2007, the New Mexico State Capitol building was evacuated due to a bomb threat, prompting a response by law enforcement and bomb disposal teams. The threat was later determined to be a false alarm, but the incident highlighted the ongoing concerns about terrorism and security measures in public buildings.