1. On February 15, 1777, Vermont declared itself an independent republic, becoming the first state in the United States to do so. For the next 14 years, Vermont operated as an independent nation before being admitted to the Union in 1791.

2. In 1835, Vermont became the first state to abolish slavery through legislative action. The state had abolished slavery in practice since its inception, but this action made it the first state to do so officially.

3. On February 15, 1943, the Vermont Marble Company began production of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. The monument was completed later that year and unveiled on April 9, 1948.

4. In 1966, the Vermont legislature passed the nation's first law mandating a deposit on beverage containers. The landmark Bottle Bill aimed to reduce litter and promote recycling, and has since been adopted in several other states.

5. On February 15, 2006, Vermont became the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex civil unions. The law granted same-sex couples many of the same rights and protections as married couples, but stopped short of full marriage equality. Vermont would become the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2009.