1. In 1776, the Rhode Island General Assembly declared their independence from Great Britain, becoming the first of the 13 colonies to do so.

2. On March 10, 1839, the Providence and Worcester Railroad was chartered. The railroad played a crucial role in the industrialization of Rhode Island and enabled faster transportation of goods across the state.

3. In 1864, the Rhode Island Soldiers' and Sailors' Historical Society was founded. The society collects and preserves Rhode Island's military history and is responsible for operating the John Brown House Museum.

4. On March 10, 1874, the town of Portsmouth established the first public library in Rhode Island. The library started with just 289 books, but has since grown to become an important community resource.

5. In 1970, the University of Rhode Island (URI) celebrated its 75th anniversary. Founded in 1892 as the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, URI has become a major research university and one of the state's largest employers.