1. On October 30, 1947, a deadly fire swept through a rural schoolhouse in Maine, killing 15 children and their teacher. Known as the "Bath School disaster," it remains one of the deadliest mass murders in American history perpetrated by a single individual.

2. In 1821, Maine officially became a state after separating from Massachusetts. The state was admitted to the Union as the 23rd state on March 15, 1820, but it wasn't until October 30, 1821, that the state's constitution went into effect and Maine officially became a state.

3. On October 30, 1856, Maine's famous lighthouse keeper Joshua James was born in Hull, Massachusetts. James would go on to become one of the most legendary lifesavers in maritime history, credited with saving thousands of lives during his career.

4. In 1893, the eastern boundary of Maine was officially determined by the arbitration of a commission appointed by the President. The commission ruled that the boundary should follow the St. Croix River, which had been a source of dispute between the United States and Canada for many years.

5. On October 30, 2000, the Portland Museum of Art opened a major exhibition of the work of Winslow Homer, a celebrated Maine artist. The exhibition included more than 100 of Homer's watercolors, painting, and etchings, providing a comprehensive look at the artist's remarkable career.