1. On November 18, 1916, the first car was driven through the newly constructed Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southeast New Mexico. The park was established to protect one of the world's most unique underground caverns with over 119 caves.

2. November 18, 1929, marked the first official air mail delivery in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The service connected rural areas to urban centers, providing quicker mail delivery times and stimulating commerce.

3. In 1945, on November 18th, the New Mexico state flag was officially adopted by the New Mexico Legislature. Designed by Dr. Harry Mera, the flag features the sun symbol of the Zia Pueblo, representing the four cardinal directions, seasons, and stages of life.

4. On November 18, 1959, the country's first atomic-powered vessel, the USS Nautilus, made its way inland on the Missouri River in Albuquerque. The Nautilus was built to serve as a prototype for future submarines and could travel at speeds up to 20 knots underwater.

5. November 18, 1961, saw astronaut Ralph Roe successfully launched into space aboard a rocket built by Sandia National Laboratories. This experimental launch made Sandia the first national laboratory to send a rocket into space, paving the way for the United States space program.