New Mexico History 1980-2012

Last Timeline

Period: Jan 1, 1980 to Dec 31, 2012

Riot

Feb 2, 1980

The New Mexico penitentiary has a riot. It lasts from the 2-3 of Feb.. Guards are taken hostage and 33 people die.

Highways

Dec 3, 1981

Interstate 40 is completed in New Mexico. One of the most famous roads, route 66 is on this road. In New Mexico the length of the road is 373 miles (600.3 km) long

Landing

Dec 3, 1982

Columbia, the Space Shuttle, landed in White Sands. First launched on the STS-1 mission, and completed 27 other missions. It disintegrated during re-entry on February 1, 2003.

Basketball Champians

Dec 3, 1983

North Carolina State and coach Jim Valvano win the NCAA basketball championship game in the Pit in Albuquerque. The Pit is a university arena of UNM.

Walters

Dec 3, 1984

Mary Coon Walters becomes the first woman in New Mexico Supreme Court Justice. Was a transport pilot during World War II. She lived from 1922-2001.

Museums

Dec 3, 1986

New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is founded in Albuquerque

Old Age

Dec 3, 1987

Georgia O’Keeffe dies at age 98 in Santa Fe

Another Museum

Dec 3, 1988

Farm and Ranch Museum opens in Las Cruces, later becomes the Bruce King New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Center

Land of Enchantment

Dec 3, 1989

“Land of Enchantment” by Michael Martin Murphey is adopted as official state ballad

Smithsonian

Dec 3, 1990

“Dave’s Dream”, an award-winning lowrider 1969 Ford LTD from Chimayo, is acquired by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Aliens

Dec 3, 1992

The International UFO Museum and Research Center opens in Roswell, New Mexico

Virus

Dec 3, 1993

First Hantavirus outbreak known in U. S. occurs in the Four Corners area. New Mexico has the most cases.

Indian Casino's

Dec 5, 1995

Governor Gary Johnson signs gaming compacts with eleven Tribes, and casinos begin operating.

Land

Dec 5, 1996

Ted Turner purchases the 588,000-acre Vermejo Park Ranch from Pennzoil Corporation

O'Keeffe Mueseum

Dec 5, 1997

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum opens in Santa Fe

Ambassador

Dec 5, 1998

Ed Romero of Albuquerque is appointed U. S. Ambassador to Spain

The Cowboy Life

Dec 5, 1999

Don Imus, national radio show host, opens a 4,000-acre ranch in northern New Mexico to help sick children experience cowboy life.

Wild Fire

Dec 5, 2000

Cerro Grande fire leaves thousands homeless in Los Alamos, more than 400 homes are destroyed.

At Peace

Dec 5, 2001

Revenue sharing agreement with eleven gaming Tribes settled

Retiring

Dec 5, 2004

Influential New Mexico Representatives J. Paul Taylor and Max Coll retire after a combined 49 years of service