Today in New Mexico History:
February 1, 1847 — During the Taos Rebellion, 200 occupying U.S. Army soldiers from Las Vegas were sent to uproot an insurgence in Mora, where they burned every building.
February 1, 1951 — The coldest day ever, it was -50°F (-45.6°C) in Gavilan, Rio Arriba County.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 2, 1848 — The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, ending the Mexican War and guaranteeing New Mexican's land rights.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 2, 1980 — Prisoners at the New Mexico State Penitentiary outside of Santa Fe riot for two days leaving 33 dead.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 7, 1706 — The villa San Francisco de Alburquerque was founded by Gov. Francisco Cuervo y Valdes and 12 families. It was named after the Duke of Alburquerque who resided in New Spain (Mexico).
Today in New Mexico History:
February 8, 1923 — An explosion in the Dawson coal mine killed 121 miners when a train jumped it's track, and ignited the coal dust.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 9, 1880 — The first steam locomotive chugged into Santa Fe, on a spur from the main line near Lamy, signaling the symbolic and actual demise of commerce on the Santa Fe Trail.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 12, 1929 — Colorado, Texas and New Mexico signed the first Rio Grande Compact in Santa Fe. It placed five-year moratorium on water projects until water could be measured for apportionment.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 13, 1888 — Jean Baptiste Lamy, the Archbishop of Santa Fe, died of pneumonia. As leader of the Santa Fe Archdiocese since 1851, he oversaw many changes within the Roman Catholic Church in New Mexico, including the suppression of traditional worship and of religious brotherhood societies within individual communities.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 17, 1896 — The Santa Fe New Mexican reported blood and clothing found on a Tularosa road indicate that Col. Albert J. Fountain and his 7-year-old son, Henry, were killed at White Sands. Their bodies were never found.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 18, 1878 — John H. Tunstall was murdered near Tinnie while driving horses to Lincoln. His death inflamed his young cowhands, including Billy the Kid, who sought revenge in the Lincoln County War.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 18, 1930 — New Mexico State University professor Clyde W. Tombaugh discovered the dwarf planet Pluto.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 19, 1851 — Guadalupe Miranda petitioned Mexican officials for a land grant in the Dona Ana County area. In 1888 he sold the land for only $5, believing the United States would not confirm the grant. Indeed, the next owner's claim was denied.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 20, 1905 — The New Mexico Assembly created the Mounted Police, which, although it never exceeded 22 members, existed until 1922 when its duties were transferred to the National Guard.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 21, 1862 — Rebel forces under Gen. H.H. Sibley defeated Union forces of Gen. Canby at Valverde, the largest Civil War battle in New Mexico.
Today in New Mexico History: February 22, 1916 — Common lands of the Mora landgrant are sold to anglos at the courthouse door in Mora. Residents may no longer use the grazing lands for their cattle and sheep, nor the forests for wood cuttings, but they are not informed of this in order to avoid confrontation.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 23, 1540 — Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, with 337 Spaniards, about 700 Indian allies and thousands of livestock went north from the Mexican outpost of Compostela to look for the seven golden cities of Cibola.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 24, 1821 — Augustin de Iturbide proclaimed Mexican independence from Spain at the town of Iguala. Months would pass before New Mexicans would receive news of the event.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 24, 1863 — The Territory of Arizona, until then part of the Territory of New Mexico, was organized by the U.S. Congress as a separate territory.
February 25, 1957 — Buddy Holly and the Crickets recorded That'll Be the Day in Clovis,. The single sold more than 1 million copies and topped Billboard's pop chart.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 28, 1861 — Congress organized the Territory of Colorado, and a northern portion of New Mexico from the fertile San Luis Valley to the east was taken. Many longtime New Mexicans become citizens of Colorado.
Today in New Mexico History:
February 29, 1908 — Former Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett was shot and killed near Organ. His killer was acquitted of murder charges even though he confessed to the crime.
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