1. The Battle of Glorieta Pass, a crucial Civil War engagement, began in New Mexico on January 2, 1862. The battle resulted in a Union victory and ensured that the Confederates could not gain a foothold in the Southwest.

2. On January 2, 1913, New Mexico officially became the 47th state in the United States. This followed many years of struggle and debate over statehood, with the territory finally being granted statehood due in part to its contributions during World War I.

3. In 1969, the University of New Mexico men's basketball team achieved a record-breaking 44-game winning streak, which began on January 2 with a victory over the Air Force Academy. The streak is the longest in NCAA Division I history.

4. The Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its well-preserved ancient Puebloan ruins, was designated on January 2, 1907. The park is located in northwest New Mexico and attracts thousands of visitors each year.

5. On January 2, 2011, former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson became the first sitting U.S. governor to visit North Korea since the Korean War. Richardson went to North Korea as part of a diplomatic mission aimed at improving relations between the isolated country and the United States.