1. On August 13, 1680, the Pueblo Revolt began in what is now New Mexico. Led by the medicine man Popé, the native Pueblo people rose up against their Spanish colonizers and were able to drive them out of the region for several years.

2. August 13, 1829 marked the founding of the town of Taos, which would become a prominent center of trade, and later, a popular destination for artists and writers.

3. In 1846, during the Mexican-American War, U.S. troops under the command of General Stephen Kearny marched into Santa Fe and claimed New Mexico for the United States. The occupation began on August 13 of that year.

4. On August 13, 1912, New Mexico became the 47th state to join the Union. At the time, it was one of the most sparsely populated states in the country, with a population of fewer than 400,000 people.

5. August 13, 1942 saw the establishment of the White Sands Missile Range in southern New Mexico, which would become a key testing ground for American missiles and rockets in the decades to come. Today, it remains an important research facility for the U.S. military and NASA.