1. In 1850, the United States government signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which officially ended the Mexican-American War and gave the US control over New Mexico and other territories.

2. In 1912, New Mexico became the 47th state to join the United States, after being a territory for approximately 62 years. The state celebrates its statehood on January 6, which is known as Statehood Day.

3. In 1945, the scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory successfully tested the first atomic bomb, which was called Trinity. The site of the test is now a National Historic Landmark and is open to visitors.

4. In 2007, Governor Bill Richardson signed a bill that made New Mexico the first US state to require all public schools to have a moment of silence at the beginning of each day for students to reflect or pray.

5. In 2018, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez signed a bill that banned the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. The law went into effect on July 1, 2019, and violators could face fines of up to $50 for a first offense and up to $200 for a subsequent offense.