1. On July 21, 1861, the 4th Maine Volunteer Infantry fought in their first battle of the American Civil War at Bull Run in Virginia, ending in defeat for the Union army. The regiment went on to serve in several other key battles during the war.

2. In 1901, on July 21, the state of Maine passed a law prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to anyone under the age of 16. This law was later amended to set the minimum age at 18 in 1997.

3. On July 21, 1921, Portland, Maine became the first city in the United States to have a radio station broadcast an ice hockey game. The game was between the Boston Bruins and the Portland Rosebuds.

4. In 1966, on July 21, the Naval Air Station Brunswick was commissioned in Maine. The station was used for anti-submarine warfare and surveillance during the Cold War.

5. On July 21, 2006, a rare tornado touched down in Maine, causing damage in the small town of Norway. The tornado was classified as an F2 on the Fujita Scale, with winds between 113 and 157 mph. Thankfully, no fatalities were reported.