1. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 23, 1848, ending the Mexican-American War and officially ceding New Mexico to the United States.

2. One of New Mexico's most famous artists, Georgia O'Keeffe, was born on February 23, 1887, in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. She would later move to New Mexico and produce some of her most iconic works inspired by the landscape and culture.

3. On February 23, 1875, the U.S. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which prohibited discrimination based on race in public accommodations and jury service. However, the act was largely ignored and ultimately struck down by the Supreme Court in 1883.

4. The New Mexico State Penitentiary riots began on February 23, 1980, when inmates seized control of the prison and overtook guards and staff. The riots lasted for three days and resulted in the deaths of 33 inmates.

5. On February 23, 1923, New Mexico Governor James F. Hinkle signed the Pueblo Lands Act, which recognized the land claims of the Pueblo people and restored some of their traditional lands. This was a significant victory for the Pueblo communities and their efforts to reclaim their ancestral territories.