1. In 1820, Maine became the 23rd state to join the United States. February 8 commemorates Maine's statehood day, marking the anniversary of this historic event.

2. On February 8, 1910, a fire broke out at the Kineo hotel in Moosehead Lake, Maine, causing extensive damage to the building. Remarkably, no one was injured in the blaze, and the hotel was eventually rebuilt and reopened.

3. In 1944, a B-24 bomber named "Barbara Jean II" crashed in northern Maine during a training mission. All 10 crew members were killed in the crash, which occurred during a snowstorm.

4. February 8, 1971, saw the establishment of Baxter State Park, a wilderness area in northern Maine. The park encompasses over 200,000 acres and features some of the state's most spectacular scenery, including Mount Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine.

5. On February 8, 2003, a massive blizzard struck the northeast United States, dumping several feet of snow on Maine and other states in the region. The storm caused widespread power outages and travel disruptions, but Mainers rallied together to dig out and recover from the storm.