1. In 1862, Confederate forces under General Henry Hopkins Sibley attacked Union troops at the Battle of Valverde during the Civil War. The Confederate victory secured the area around Albuquerque and allowed them to continue their campaign in the Southwest.
2. The Royal Road, also known as El Camino Real, was established by the Spanish in 1598 and served as a major trade route for centuries. On February 17, 1598, the first immigrants from Mexico arrived in what is now New Mexico via the Royal Road, led by conquistador Juan de Oñate.
3. Several notable New Mexicans were born on February 17, including Willa Cather, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author known for works like "My Antonia," and Dennis Chavez, the first Hispanic U.S. Senator.
4. On February 17, 1970, a massive snowstorm blanketed much of New Mexico, with some areas receiving over two feet of snow. The storm resulted in several fatalities and caused travel disruptions for days.
5. The White Sands Missile Range, the largest military installation in the U.S., was established on February 17, 1945. The range has been used for various military tests and training exercises over the decades, including the development of the atomic bomb.