1. Rhode Island celebrates "Founders' Day" on December 4 in honor of the state's founding. In 1636, Roger Williams and his followers arrived in modern-day Providence and established the first permanent settlement.

2. On December 4, 1776, General George Washington and his soldiers retreated to Rhode Island after a defeat at the Battle of White Plains. They spent the winter in Providence and other towns in the state, where they regrouped and reorganized.

3. The first statehouse in Providence was completed on December 4, 1901. The building, which still stands today, was designed by the prominent architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White and features a distinctive neoclassical style.

4. The Breakers, the famous mansion built by the Vanderbilt family in Newport, was first opened to the public on December 4, 1948. The stunning Gilded Age estate is now a National Historic Landmark and a popular tourist destination.

5. On December 4, 1995, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples are entitled to the same legal rights and protections as opposite-sex married couples. This groundbreaking decision paved the way for marriage equality in Rhode Island and influenced similar rulings in other states.