1. The Rhode Island State House was dedicated on December 16, 1904. The impressive neoclassical building, located in the heart of Providence, is known for its large dome and marble columns. It is the fifth largest self-supporting dome in the world.

2. On December 16, 1773, the Gaspee Affair took place in Narragansett Bay. British customs officials had been cracking down on smuggling in the area, but tensions boiled over when the HMS Gaspee ran aground. Local colonists boarded the ship, looted it, and burned it to the waterline, marking one of the first acts of rebellion against British rule.

3. The first ever Army-Navy football game was played in Newport, Rhode Island on December 16, 1890. Navy defeated Army 24-0 in front of a crowd of just 2,000 spectators.

4. Brown University was established on December 16, 1764, making it the seventh oldest college in the United States. Originally known as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the school was renamed in honor of benefactor Nicholas Brown Jr. in 1804.

5. On December 16, 1953, the Rhode Island General Assembly officially designated the quahog as the state shell. The quahog, a type of clam found on the East Coast, is a staple of Rhode Island cuisine and is used in dishes such as clam chowder and stuffies (baked clam and breadcrumb appetizers).