1. On May 4, 1776, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress adopted a resolution to encourage the people of Massachusetts to abstain from using imported tea and other British goods, in support of the American colonies' growing resistance to British rule.

2. In 1861, on May 4, the First Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first volunteer regiments to be raised for service in the American Civil War, left Boston for Washington, D.C.

3. May 4, 1891, marked the opening of the Boston Public Library's new McKim building, which is now a designated National Historic Landmark and a popular tourist attraction in the city.

4. On May 4, 1927, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced the first successful flight of a rocket-powered plane, designed and built by the university's graduate students. This innovative achievement helped to pave the way for modern rocket technology.

5. May 4, 1970, saw an anti-war protest outside the Massachusetts State House in Boston, in response to the deadly shooting of students at Kent State University in Ohio by National Guard troops. The protest, which drew thousands of demonstrators, was one of many across the country that helped to fuel increasing opposition to the Vietnam War.