1. In 1600, the Spanish conquistador Don Juan de Oñate established the first permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico at San Juan Pueblo. The pueblo had been abandoned by its original inhabitants, the Tewa people, due to drought and disease.

2. On May 2, 1862, during the American Civil War, Confederate forces under General Henry Hopkins Sibley defeated Union troops at the Battle of Valverde. The battle took place in Valencia County, near the Rio Grande, and was part of Sibley's campaign to capture the New Mexico Territory for the Confederacy.

3. In 1902, the first train arrived in Las Cruces, New Mexico, connecting the town to the Southern Pacific Railroad and opening up new opportunities for trade and commerce. The railroad also brought tourists to the area, eager to explore the natural beauty of the nearby Organ Mountains.

4. On May 2, 1921, the first commercial flight to New Mexico landed at Albuquerque's West Mesa Airport. The flight was operated by the newly-formed Western Air Express and marked the beginning of a new era in air travel for the state.

5. In 2000, New Mexico celebrated its 88th annual Fiestas de Santa Fe on May 2. The event, which dates back to 1712, honors the reconquest of Santa Fe by Spanish colonists after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. The fiesta includes a variety of activities, including a religious procession, live music and dance performances, and a parade.