1. The Boston Tea Party took place on December 18, 1773. A group of colonists disguised as Native Americans boarded three British ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea into the water to protest the Tea Act and British taxation without representation. This event is considered a major catalyst for the American Revolution.

2. On December 18, 1892, the first professional basketball game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts. The game was between the YMCA Training School and the Springfield College, and the final score was 5-1.

3. In 1966, Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on December 18. Williams, who played his entire career with the Red Sox, is considered one of the greatest hitters in baseball history.

4. The Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse fire occurred on December 18, 1999. The tragedy claimed the lives of 6 firefighters who were battling the blaze that broke out in a vacant warehouse.

5. In 2013, Massachusetts became the first state in the US to legalize same-sex marriage on December 18. The state's Supreme Court had ruled in favor of marriage equality in 2003, and the law allowing same-sex couples to marry went into effect 10 years later.