1. On December 12, 1888, the first issue of the Albuquerque Daily Citizen newspaper was published. The paper was a significant contribution to the development of the city's press.

2. On December 12, 1919, New Mexico became the 47th state in the United States. President Woodrow Wilson signed the statehood proclamation, which officially designated New Mexico as a state.

3. December 12, 1974, saw the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Albuquerque. The monument was built to honor the service and sacrifice of New Mexico residents who served in the Vietnam War.

4. In 1996, on December 12, NASA's Mars Pathfinder landed on the surface of the red planet. The mission was led by Albuquerque native, Dr. Brian Muirhead, who served as the Deputy Project Manager.

5. On December 12, 2016, the State of New Mexico celebrated the centennial anniversary of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The park is one of the state's most popular tourist attractions, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors per year. Created on December 12, 1916, Carlsbad Caverns was the first national park designated in the state of New Mexico.