1. On January 28, 1778, the Vermont Constitution was adopted, making Vermont the first state to abolish slavery in its constitution. The state's commitment to abolition was a key factor in its eventual admission to the Union in 1791.

2. In 1870, the world's first skiing school was founded in Stowe, Vermont. The Trapp Family Lodge, now a popular ski resort, was originally home to the von Trapp family, who fled Austria during World War II and settled in Vermont.

3. On January 28, 1935, the Vermont-based company Sanders Candy was founded by Clinton Sanders, who began selling his sweets from a horse-drawn carriage. Today, the company's products are sold in stores across the United States.

4. In 1994, the state of Vermont became the first state in the country to pass a law legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples. The law was later superseded by the state's legalization of same-sex marriage in 2009.

5. January 28, 2016 marked the 10th anniversary of the founding of The Skinny Pancake, a popular Vermont-based creperie chain. The restaurant has since grown to include several locations throughout the state, and has been recognized for its commitment to using local, organic ingredients.