1. On January 21, 1891, New Mexico's first governor, William Carr Lane, passed away. Lane served as the state's governor from 1852 to 1853 during the territorial period.

2. In 1912, New Mexico became the 47th state in the United States on January 21. Until that point, it had been a territory since 1850.

3. In 1933, the New Mexico Museum of Art opened in Santa Fe on January 21. The museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the art and culture of New Mexico and the Southwest.

4. On January 21, 1972, Chicano activists from New Mexico and other states formed the Alianza Federal de Mercedes to fight for land grants owed to their ancestors dating back to Mexican rule.

5. On January 21, 2017, thousands of New Mexicans participated in the Women's March on Santa Fe in protest of the inauguration of President Donald Trump. The march was one of several held worldwide in support of women's rights and other social justice causes.