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5 Fun Facts About July 15 In Rhode Island History

---Learn Every Day: RI Today In History Facts Texted Each Day - Text: history ri To: 618-270-4005---

1. Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 colonies to declare independence on July 15, 1776. While most colonies had already voted to declare independence by this point, Rhode Island was hesitant to do so until they received further instructions from the Continental Congress.

2. On July 15, 1916, Newport, Rhode Island was the site of a shark attack that killed a young boy named Lester Stillwell. This incident, along with several other shark attacks in the New Jersey area that same year, inspired Peter Benchley to write his famous novel "Jaws."

3. The first Fourth of July parade was held in Bristol, Rhode Island on July 15, 1785. The town has continued to hold an annual Fourth of July parade ever since, and it is now the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States.

4. On July 15, 1960, the USS Nautilus became the first submarine in the world to complete a submerged voyage across the North Pole. The mission, called "Operation Sunshine," marked a significant milestone in the development of nuclear submarines and increased the United States' military capabilities.

5. The Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge, one of Rhode Island's most iconic landmarks, was officially opened to the public on July 15, 1969. The suspension bridge spans the East Passage of Narragansett Bay and connects Newport and Jamestown, Rhode Island.
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