1. The Gaspee Affair: On May 30, 1772, the HMS Gaspee, a British customs schooner, was burned and destroyed by Rhode Island colonists. This act of rebellion against British authority is considered one of the earliest events leading up to the American Revolution.

2. Rhode Island Statehood: May 30, 1790 marks the day when Rhode Island officially became the 13th state of the United States. It was the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution.

3. First Suspension Bridge: On May 30, 1866, the first suspension bridge in the United States, the Great Falls Suspension Bridge, opened in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It spanned over the Blackstone River and was designed by Rhode Island native, Samuel Augustus Greeley.

4. Military Training: On May 30, 1907, the Rhode Island state legislature established the Rhode Island State Council of Defense to prepare the state for war. It provided training for military personnel and organized resources for the war effort.

5. Navy Destroyer Commissioned: On May 30, 1942, the USS Edison, a Navy destroyer named after Thomas Edison, was commissioned in Providence, Rhode Island. It played a crucial role in World War II, including participating in the Normandy invasion.