1. In 1862, Union forces led by General Edward Canby defeated Confederate troops at the Battle of Peralta, near Los Lunas. This victory secured Union control of the Rio Grande Valley and ended Confederate attempts to gain a foothold in New Mexico.

2. On May 21, 1881, the infamous Lincoln County War came to a close when Sheriff Pat Garrett shot and killed outlaw William Bonney, also known as Billy the Kid, in Fort Sumner. The Kid had been on the run for months after escaping from jail and was finally tracked down by Garrett.

3. The town of Truth or Consequences, formerly known as Hot Springs, officially changed its name on May 21, 1950 to honor the popular radio quiz show of the same name. The city continues to celebrate the occasion each year with events and festivities.

4. On May 21, 1997, a tornado struck the town of Clovis, causing extensive damage and taking the lives of two people. The tornado was part of a larger outbreak that inflicted severe weather across Texas and Oklahoma as well.

5. In 2008, the New Mexico State Capitol Building was designated a National Historic Landmark on May 21, recognizing its significance as a prominent example of Pueblo Revival architecture and as the seat of government for the state of New Mexico.