1. In 1833, the Great Meteor Shower took place on the night of August 21. People across Maine witnessed an incredible display of shooting stars, with an estimated 100,000 meteors streaking across the sky in just a few hours.

2. On August 21, 1922, the USS Eagle-56 sank off the coast of Maine after colliding with a cargo ship during a routine patrol. While most of the crew was rescued, 49 sailors lost their lives in the disaster.

3. August 21, 1959, marked the opening of the first ever Kmart discount store in the United States. The store was located in the city of Augusta, Maine, and would go on to become one of the country's largest retailers.

4. In 1969, the Maine Turnpike Authority raised the speed limit on the Maine Turnpike from 60 to 70 miles per hour, making it one of the fastest highways in the region.

5. August 21, 2017, was the date of a total solar eclipse visible across much of the United States, including Maine. While the path of totality did not pass directly over Maine, residents still gathered to witness a partial eclipse that obscured up to 58% of the sun.