1. In 1775, on this day, the Battle of Falmouth occurred during the American Revolutionary War. British forces attempted to invade the town of Falmouth (now Portland), but were unsuccessful.

2. On October 19, 1823, the Portland Observatory was built in Portland. It stands 86 feet tall and was used as a lookout tower for incoming ships.

3. The Great Maine Fire of 1947 broke out on October 19th, burning over 200,000 acres and causing 17 deaths. It remains one of the largest wildfires in Maine's history.

4. In 1960, Maine State Representative Margaret Chase Smith became the first woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate on October 19th. She served as a senator for 24 years.

5. On October 19, 2016, the first wind turbine in the United States installed offshore was activated in Maine. The turbine is located off the coast of Maine and can generate up to 12 megawatts of power.