1. On May 13, 1782, Connecticut abolished slavery, making it the first state to do so. This was done through an act passed by the state's General Assembly, which granted freedom to all slaves born after March 1 of that year.

2. In 1846, Phineas Gage, a railroad construction foreman in Vermont, survived a gruesome accident that would make him one of the most famous case studies in the history of neuroscience. Gage was using a tamping iron to pack explosives into a hole when the explosive ignited prematurely, sending the iron through his face and out the top of his head. Amazingly, Gage was able to walk and talk following the accident, but his personality changed dramatically.

3. Connecticut is home to a number of notable universities and colleges, including Wesleyan University, Trinity College, and the University of Connecticut. On May 13, 1962, the University of Connecticut held its first graduation ceremony at its main campus in Storrs.

4. On May 13, 1976, a series of eight tornadoes touched down in Connecticut, causing significant damage to homes, buildings, and trees. One person was killed and dozens were injured as a result of the storms.

5. May 13 is also recognized as the anniversary of the establishment of the United States Navy's "Submarine Force", which was created in 1900. At the time of its establishment, the submarine force consisted of just one boat, the USS Holland, but it has since grown to become one of the most important branches of the U.S. military.