Here are 5 interesting facts about December 30 in Rhode Island history:

1. In 1961, Newport resident and actress Grace Kelly visited the Rhode Island School of Design to view an exhibit of her watercolor paintings.

2. On December 30, 1970, the Rhode Island State Police unveiled a new laser speed detection device, the LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system, to catch speeders on the state's highways.

3. In 1988, Rhode Island experienced a major winter storm that dumped over a foot of snow on the state and caused widespread power outages and travel disruptions.

4. On December 30, 1994, the Rhode Island General Assembly voted to repeal the state's ban on gay marriage, making Rhode Island the first state in the nation to do so.

5. In 2004, hundreds of Rhode Islanders gathered at the State House to protest the state's plan to sell Camp Fogarty, a Boy Scout camp located in western Rhode Island, to a developer who planned to build a massive housing development.