1. In 1746, the Board of Trade approved a plan to establish the settlement of Wilmington, laying the foundations for one of Delaware's most important cities.

2. In 1862, the Union Army engaged in the Battle of Antietam during the American Civil War. Although the battle took place in Maryland, many Delaware troops fought in the conflict, which led to thousands of casualties on both sides.

3. In 1957, the first Delaware Memorial Bridge was opened to traffic, connecting the state with New Jersey across the Delaware River. The bridge, which is more than two miles long and features two main towers, continues to serve as one of Delaware's primary transportation arteries.

4. In 1960, Delaware State University (then called Delaware State College) was granted full accreditation status by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Today, the university is one of Delaware's most prominent institutions of higher learning.

5. In 1997, Delaware became the first state to enact a law allowing for physician-assisted suicide. The law, which was later repealed and replaced with a more restrictive version, remains a controversial issue in Delaware and throughout the United States.