1. In 1900, the Olympic First Day Cover, which commemorated the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, was issued in Providence. The cover featured an illustration of the games, as well as a list of the Rhode Island athletes participating in the games.

2. In 1939, the Newport Jazz Festival was held for the first time at the Newport Casino. The festival featured performances by jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Benny Goodman, and quickly became one of the most important jazz events in the world.

3. On July 28, 1960, John F. Kennedy visited Rhode Island as a presidential candidate. He gave a speech at the Rhode Island State House, where he spoke about the importance of education, social justice, and civil rights.

4. In 1984, the first ever Providence Waterfire event was held. Waterfire is a popular public art installation that features hundreds of bonfires burning on the surface of the Providence River. The event has become a major attraction in Providence, and draws thousands of visitors each year.

5. On July 28, 2000, the USS Providence, a Los Angeles-class submarine, was commissioned at the Naval Station Newport. The submarine was named after the city of Providence, and served in operations around the world before being decommissioned in 2020.