1. Maine became the 23rd state on November 14, 1820. After two years of debates and negotiations, Maine was finally admitted to the Union as a free state under the Missouri Compromise, which also established the balance between free and slave states.

2. On November 14, 1879, the Portland Head Light was lit for the first time. Located in Cape Elizabeth, the lighthouse is one of the most photographed and recognizable landmarks in Maine, and it has been in continuous operation for over 140 years.

3. The University of Maine was founded on November 14, 1865, as the Maine State College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. Today, it is the flagship campus of the University of Maine System and is known for its research in areas such as forestry, agriculture, and marine sciences.

4. On November 14, 1947, the Maine Central Railroad's famous "Flying Yankee" train made its final trip. The streamliner had been in service since 1935, connecting Boston to Bangor via Portland and other cities in Maine. The train was retired due to declining ridership and increasing competition from automobiles and airplanes.

5. Maine's first woman governor, Margaret Chase Smith, was born on November 14, 1897, in Skowhegan. She served in the U.S. Congress for more than 30 years before being elected governor in 1949. During her tenure, she focused on education, transportation, and economic development, and she remains a trailblazer for women in politics.