1. In 1870, Maine became the first state to adopt a secret ballot system for voting. This system helped to prevent voter intimidation and fraud.

2. On October 1, 1962, the first nuclear power plant in the United States went online in Maine. The Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company plant was located in Wiscasset and provided electricity to the state for 24 years.

3. In 1846, the city of Portland, Maine became the first city in the United States to establish a permanent fire department. The department was created after a series of devastating fires, including one in 1824 that destroyed over 1,000 buildings.

4. On October 1, 1917, the University of Maine established the Maine Cooperative Extension, which provides education and resources to farmers and communities across the state. The program has been instrumental in promoting sustainable agriculture and supporting rural communities.

5. In 1946, the Penobscot Bridge in Bangor, Maine was completed. The bridge spans the Penobscot River and was the longest two-span concrete bridge in the world at the time of its construction. Today, the Penobscot Bridge is an important transportation route in the state.