1. Rhode Island Was the Last to Declare Independence

Rhode Island was the last of the 13 colonies to declare independence from Great Britain, waiting until two months after the Continental Congress declared it in Philadelphia. Rhode Island was hesitant to join the fight against Great Britain, but with the urging of her neighbors, she eventually joined the cause.

2. The Burning of the Gaspee in 1772

The burning of the British customs ship, the Gaspee, took place in Narragansett Bay in 1772. This act of rebellion by Rhode Island colonists against British rule would foreshadow the Independence Day events that would take place a few short years later.

3. Newport’s Turn-of-the-Century Fireworks

Newport's Cliff Walk and Bellevue Avenue were famous for their Fourth of July fireworks shows in the early 1900s. These lavish displays included a giant American flag projected onto the side of a building, set alight to create an immense firecracker effect.

4. The First Bristol Fourth of July Parade

Bristol's Fourth of July parade, which is now the oldest continuous celebration of its kind in the country, was first held in 1785. The town produced a giant eagle float made entirely of flowers that could be seen for miles.

5. The Declaration of Independence Arriving in Newport

On July 9, 1776, the Rhode Island Committee of Safety unveiled the Declaration of Independence to the people of Newport. While it wouldn't be until two weeks later that the document would be ratified, this was a significant moment in Rhode Island history.