1. Maine became the 23rd state in the Union on December 11, 1820. After a decades-long struggle for statehood, Maine was finally recognized as a sovereign state following the Missouri Compromise, which allowed for the addition of both Maine and Missouri to the Union.

2. On December 11, 1884, the Great Fire of Portland destroyed much of the city's commercial center, causing almost $10 million in damage and leaving more than 10,000 people homeless. Despite the devastation, the city quickly rebuilt and modernized its infrastructure, becoming a model for urban renewal in the late 19th century.

3. Maine-born author Sarah Orne Jewett was born on December 11, 1849, in South Berwick. Her works, which include the celebrated novel The Country of the Pointed Firs, explored the lives of rural New Englanders and helped establish a distinct American literary tradition.

4. The Battle of Cowpens, a pivotal engagement in the American Revolution, took place on December 11, 1780. Maine native Andrew Pickens played a key role in the battle, leading his militia unit to victory over the British and earning the nickname the "Wizard of the Saddle."

5. On December 11, 1930, Dover-Foxcroft native Charles Martin Hall was awarded a patent for his process of producing aluminum from bauxite ore, a technique that revolutionized the aluminum industry and made the lightweight and versatile metal widely available for manufacturing and construction purposes. Hall's discovery helped establish Maine as a leader in the production of aluminum and other metals.