1. Maine became a state on March 15, 1820, but the day before, on March 14, Congress officially declared Maine's statehood. This was a long-awaited event for Mainers, who had been trying to gain independence from Massachusetts for decades.

2. On March 1, 1883, John W. Deering patented his process for making paper from wood pulp, which revolutionized the paper industry. Maine soon became a major player in the paper industry, with companies like International Paper and Georgia-Pacific still operating there today.

3. March 1, 1899, was a tragic day for Maine's maritime history. The schooner William H. Conner sank off the coast of Cape Elizabeth, with only one survivor out of a crew of six. The Conner was carrying a load of lime and granite from Rockland to New York when she went down in a fierce storm.

4. On March 1, 1917, the Maine state legislature passed a law allowing women to vote in presidential elections. It would take another three years for the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to grant women nationwide suffrage, but Maine was already ahead of the curve.

5. Finally, on March 1, 1978, the Penobscot Narrows Bridge opened in Maine. This engineering marvel spans the Penobscot River and offers majestic views of the surrounding countryside. It is still one of Maine's most popular tourist attractions.