1. On July 19, 1848, Maine became the first state in the country to pass a law mandating that children between the ages of 4 and 21 attend school for at least 12 weeks a year.

2. On July 19, 1892, Biddeford's Lincoln Mill was rocked by an explosion that killed four workers and injured dozens more. The disaster prompted calls for improved safety standards in Maine's mills and factories.

3. July 19, 1909 marked the opening of the Somesville Bridge on Mount Desert Island, a swing bridge that connected the island's eastern and western halves. The bridge remained in use until 1982, when it was replaced by a fixed span.

4. In 1927, Bath Iron Works launched the USS Argonne, a submarine tender that would serve in the Pacific during World War II. The ship was named after the Battle of Argonne, a major Allied victory in France during World War I.

5. Finally, July 19, 1965 saw the opening of the Maine Turnpike, a toll highway that runs from Kittery in the south to Augusta in the north. The turnpike has helped to facilitate travel and commerce in Maine for over half a century.