1. Pueblo Revolt
On December 26, 1680, the Pueblo Revolt began in what is now New Mexico. After years of Spanish colonization, the Pueblo tribes rose up against their oppressors, burning down churches and killing hundreds of Spanish settlers.

2. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
On December 26, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, ending the Mexican-American War and ceding a large portion of Mexico's northern territory to the United States, including present-day New Mexico.

3. Billy the Kid's trial
On December 26, 1880, Billy the Kid went on trial for the murder of Sheriff William Brady in Mesilla, New Mexico. The trial ended in a hung jury, and the Kid later escaped from custody.

4. Statehood
On December 26, 1911, New Mexico officially became the 47th state in the United States, joining Arizona as one of the last states to gain statehood during the progressive era.

5. Los Alamos National Laboratory
On December 26, 1942, the Los Alamos National Laboratory was founded in New Mexico as part of the Manhattan Project, which led to the development of the atomic bomb. Los Alamos continues to be a significant research institution to this day.