1. In 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico, leading to the Mexican-American War. On May 23 of that year, American forces under the command of General Stephen Kearny captured the city of Santa Fe, which at the time was the capital of the Mexican territory of New Mexico. This victory allowed the Americans to gain control of the region and set the stage for the eventual annexation of New Mexico into the United States.

2. On May 23, 1934, a massive dust storm known as "Black Sunday" swept across the Great Plains, including parts of New Mexico. The storm was caused by a combination of severe drought, over-farming, and high winds, and it devastated the region's agriculture and drove many farmers and their families to abandon their land in search of better opportunities elsewhere.

3. The New Mexico Museum of Space History opened its doors to the public on May 23, 1976. The museum, located in Alamogordo, showcases the history of space exploration and features exhibits on topics such as rocketry, satellites, and space travel. It also houses a planetarium and an IMAX theater.

4. On May 23, 2002, a wildfire known as the "Venado Fire" broke out in the Santa Fe National Forest. The fire eventually burned over 12,000 acres and destroyed several homes and outbuildings, but no human lives were lost. The cause of the fire was determined to be a discarded cigarette butt.

5. May 23 is also the birthday of New Mexico's first elected female governor, Susana Martinez. Martinez, who was born in 1959, served as governor from 2011 to 2019 and was the first Latina governor in the United States. During her tenure, she focused on issues such as education reform, economic development, and fighting crime and drug abuse.