1. In 1772, the Gaspee Affair occurred in Narragansett Bay. A British Royal Navy ship, HMS Gaspee, was stationed in the bay to enforce trade laws. A group of colonial patriots boarded the ship and burned it, making it one of the first acts of rebellion towards British rule in America.
2. In 1842, Rhode Island experienced the Dorr Rebellion. Activists sought to expand the state's suffrage laws to allow more citizens to vote. When their efforts were unsuccessful, they formed their own "People's Party" and attempted to overthrow the government. The rebellion failed, but it led to the expansion of suffrage rights in the state.
3. In 1927, the first air mail delivery occurred in Rhode Island. Pilots flew mail from New York City to Providence, marking a milestone in aviation history.
4. In 1962, the United States submarine USS Triton set a record for submerged circumnavigation of the globe. The journey began and ended in Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay and took 84 days to complete.
5. In 1972, the final beam was placed on the Rhode Island Convention Center in downtown Providence. The convention center has hosted countless events and brought significant economic development to the state's capital city.