1. On July 28, 1847, the Portland Rum Riot broke out in Portland, Maine. The riot was caused by the passage of the “Maine Law”, which prohibited the sale of alcohol. The law was highly controversial and led to significant resistance among the city’s working-class residents. The riot resulted in the death of a bystander and several injuries.

2. On July 28, 1866, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was founded in Illinois. The GAR was a fraternal organization made up of Union veterans of the American Civil War. The organization had a significant presence in Maine, with numerous posts established throughout the state.

3. On July 28, 1932, former Maine Governor Percival P. Baxter established Baxter State Park. The park encompasses more than 200,000 acres of wilderness in northern Maine, including Mount Katahdin, the highest peak in the state. Baxter donated the land and funds for the park with the stipulation that it be kept forever wild.

4. On July 28, 1952, the Maine Turnpike officially opened to the public. The turnpike is a 109-mile toll road that runs from Kittery to Augusta, providing a faster and more direct route between southern Maine and the state capital. Today, the turnpike is a vital transportation artery for both residents and visitors.

5. On July 28, 1979, the USS Maine (BB-10) Memorial was dedicated in Portland’s Western Cemetery. The memorial honors the 260 sailors who lost their lives when the USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana Harbor in 1898, an event that helped push the United States into the Spanish-American War. The memorial features a bronze sculpture of a sailor standing atop a plinth inscribed with the names of the fallen.