NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Happy birthday, New Mexico! Today, the Land of Enchantment is celebrating its 113th anniversary of statehood. With a rich history and culture spanning thousands of years, this milestone is worth celebrating. New Mexico's first known inhabitants were the members of the Clovis culture of Paleo-Indians. Footprints discovered in 2017 suggest humans were possibly present in the region as long ago as 21,000-23,000 BCE. The Mogollon and Ancestral Pueblo cultures, which are distinguished by their fine ceramics and urbanization, are instances of later occupants; Pueblos or their ruins, such as those at Acoma, Taos, and Chaco Culture National Historical Park, demonstrate the scope of Ancestral Puebloan residences in the vicinity. The Ancestral Puebloans' extensive trading networks gave rise to tales of an enigmatic northern empire rivaling Mesoamerica and the Aztec Empire, which they dubbed Yancuic Mexico, translating to "a new Mexico." Visitors approach Pueblo Bonito, the largest archeological site at the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, in northwestern New Mexico, on Saturday, August 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio) The story of the Seven Cities of Gold, which sparked Spanish conquistadors' exploration after their conquest of the Aztecs in the early 16th century, was primarily based on Aztec traditions about a thriving empire to their north. In 1610, the Spanish established a permanent capital at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in what is now Santa Fe. The Spanish were expelled by the Pueblo Revolt at the end of the 17th century, and these early cities were occupied for more than ten years. The region returned to Spanish administration following the passing of the Pueblo leader Popé. After the Mexican War of Independence, the province of New Mexico joined the First Mexican Empire in 1821 as part of New Spain. Mexico ceded the United States its northern territories, including California, Texas, and New Mexico, after the United States won the Mexican–American War (1846–48). Both the Confederate and Union governments asserted ownership and territorial claims over New Mexico Territory at the start of the American Civil War in 1861. Map of the United States and Mexico Border (Adobe Stock) On January 6th, 1912, New Mexico was admitted by Congress into the United States as the 47th state. In 1926, Route 66 paved the way across the state. There was a huge influx of both people and money in the 1940s. In 1945, the world's first atomic bomb was tested and detonated at the Trinity site in the desert between Socorro and Alamogordo as the culmination of the Manhattan Project, the top-secret strategy employed by the United States during World War II to combat Nazi Germany. New Mexico's contributions to ending the Second World War didn't stop there. The Navajo Code Talkers first joined the Marines in 1942, transmitting messages using a code based on their then-unwritten native language to puzzle Japanese military cryptologists. Through 1945, the Code Talkers took part in every attack the Marines led in the Pacific, including those on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Peleliu, and Iwo Jima. They accurately transmitted thousands of messages detailing Japanese army movements, tactical strategies, and other communications that were essential to the conclusion of the war. A Navajo Code Talker Marine in 1943. From National Archives Then came something New Mexico is synonymous with: aliens. The 1947 United States Army Air Forces balloon debris found close to Roswell is the subject of a conspiracy theory known as the Roswell incident, arguing that the debris was actually an alien spaceship that crashed. To this day, visitors from all over the country come to see it for themselves at events such as the Roswell UFO Festival. The state rose to new heights in 1972. Albuquerque hosted the world's first balloon fiesta, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022. Up to 550 balloons may ascend simultaneously during the world's finest hot air balloon event. 800,000 people attend the nine-day celebration, which is also one of the most photographed events worldwide. Balloon Fiesta 2024 | Maggie Branch, KRQE Social Media Growth and innovation were major trends in the 1990s and early 2000s. Officials began construction on the Spaceport in 2007. Virgin Galactic would strive to bring people to space for the next seventeen years. In 2021, they finally succeeded. Another significant moment for the state occurred in 2018 when Netflix opted to buy Albuquerque Studios, followed by NBC Universal setting up shop the next year. New Mexico has since developed into a major film market. With a story that spans much longer than 113 years, the Land of Enchantment stands out as a truly unique place. New Mexicans continue to push boundaries, reach new milestones, and make history to this day. Here's to all the future birthdays New Mexico will celebrate. New Mexico’s state symbols, poems and songs: State aroma: Green chile roasting in the fall State flower: Yucca State bird: Chaparral, commonly called the “roadrunner” State tree: Nut pine or piñon tree State fish: Cutthroat trout State animal (mammal): The New Mexico black bear State vegetables: Chile and frijoles, or pinto beans State gem: Turquoise State grass: Blue Grama grass, or “Bouteloua gracillis” State fossil: Coelophysis State cookie: Biscochito, or bizcochito State insect: The tarantula hawk wasp, or “Pepsis formosa” State question: “Red or Green?” State answer: “Red and green or Christmas” State nickname: “The Land of Enchantment” State butterfly: The Sandia hairstreak State reptile: The New Mexico whiptail lizard, or “Cnemidophorus neomexicanus” State amphibian: The New Mexico spadefoot toad State aircraft: Hot air balloon State historical railroad / train: The Cumbres and Toltec scenic railroad State tie: The bolo tie State necklace: The Native American squash blossom necklace State capitol: The city of Santa Fe and the Roundhouse capitol building State flag: Sometimes called “the Zia flag,” described as the red sun symbol of the Zia Pueblo, shown in a field of gold State seal: A circle featuring an American Bald Eagle with outstretched wings shielding a smaller Mexican Eagle, symbolizing the change of sovereignty from Mexico to the United States in 1846. The phrase “Great Seal of the State of New Mexico *1912* is written on the edge of the circle State motto: “It grows as it goes,” an English translation of the Latin phrase “Crescit Eundo” State slogan (for business, commerce, industry): “Everybody is somebody in New Mexico” State poem: “A Nuevo Mexico,” written by Luis Tafoya, in both English and Spanish State folklorist: Claude Stephenson State guitar: A guitar known as “the New Mexico sunrise” State song – English: “O Fair New Mexico,” written by Elizabeth Garrett State song – Spanish: “Asi Es Nuevo Mexico,” written by Amadeo Lucero State ballad: “Land of Enchantment,” written by Michael Martin Murphey State bilingual song: “Mi Lindo Nuevo Mexico,” written by Pablo Mares State cowboy song: “Under the New Mexico Skies,” written by Syd Masters