1. In 1776, Rhode Island declared its independence from Great Britain, making it the first colony to do so. This declaration was made two months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress.

2. On April 16, 1818, the first public demonstration of Samuel F.B. Morse's telegraph was held in the city of Providence, Rhode Island. This revolutionary communication device eventually allowed for messages to be sent instantly across great distances, forever changing the way people communicate.

3. In 1863, Rhode Island became the first state to pass a law prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. This law remained in effect until 1917 when prohibition became a nationwide law.

4. On April 16, 1945, the Liberty ship SS John W. Brown was launched from the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard in Cranston, Rhode Island. This ship was one of the last built during World War II and is now a National Historic Landmark.

5. The Rhode Island State House was dedicated on April 16, 1904. This iconic building is the home of the Rhode Island General Assembly and houses the offices of the governor and other state officials. The State House is known for its impressive dome, which is the fourth-largest self-supporting marble dome in the world.