1. On September 8, 1966, the Maine Turnpike Authority voted to raise the speed limit on the turnpike from 60 mph to 70 mph, making it one of the fastest highways in the country at the time.

2. In 1863, the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment fought in the Battle of Fort Wagner in South Carolina. This battle was significant because it was one of the first times African American soldiers fought in a major engagement during the Civil War.

3. On September 8, 1923, the town of Lincoln was devastated by a forest fire that burned over 200,000 acres and killed 16 people. The fire was started by a spark from a passing train and quickly spread out of control.

4. In 1916, the Bass Harbor Head Light was officially lit for the first time. This lighthouse is located on Mount Desert Island and has become an iconic symbol of Maine's maritime heritage.

5. On September 8, 1980, President Jimmy Carter visited the town of Machiasport to dedicate the new historic site of the Burnham Tavern. This site was significant because it was the location of a meeting of patriots in 1775, who declared Maine's independence from Massachusetts.