1. On January 23, 1820, Maine was admitted as the 23rd state in the United States. Maine was originally part of Massachusetts until it became its own state.

2. In 1873, a massive blizzard hit Maine on January 23rd, causing significant damage and loss of life. The storm dumped over 27 inches of snow on Portland and left many stranded and without heat or food.

3. January 23, 1917 marks the first woman elected to the Maine House of Representatives, Florence Nicols. Nicols, a Republican from Skowhegan, was one of five women elected to the Maine legislature that year.

4. On January 23, 1973, the Maine Supreme Court ruled in the historic "Donnolo v. Larson" case that a woman has the right to choose to have an abortion, under the state's privacy laws.

5. In 2018, a new restaurant called Treehouse opened in Portland on January 23rd. Treehouse is known for their elevated street food, made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. The restaurant has become a popular spot in the city.