1. Rhode Island became the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution on April 10, 1790. The state's reluctance to join the union stemmed from concerns about the power of the federal government and the lack of a bill of rights.

2. On April 10, 1867, Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island became the first Ivy League school to admit women. The move was a result of pressure from women's rights advocates, including the Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association.

3. On April 10, 1905, the first automobile race was held in Rhode Island, starting in Providence and ending in Narragansett. The race, which covered a distance of 42 miles, was won by George Robertson in a Benz car.

4. Providence native H.P. Lovecraft, the renowned horror writer, was born on April 10, 1890. Lovecraft's works, including "The Call of Cthulhu" and "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," continue to influence the horror genre today.

5. On April 10, 2009, the Rhode Island state legislature voted to allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions. The move was a precursor to the state's eventual legalization of same-sex marriage in 2013.