1. The Gaspee Affair occurred on November 17, 1772. This event, which preceded the American Revolutionary War, involved the British ship HMS Gaspee running aground in Narragansett Bay. Local colonists, unhappy with the ship's harassing of American ships, boarded and burned the Gaspee, a significant act of rebellion against British authority.

2. Rhode Island's first official statehouse, the Old Colony House, opened on November 17, 1741. Located in Newport, the building has since been preserved as a National Historic Landmark and is open for public tours.

3. On November 17, 1915, a hurricane struck Rhode Island, causing significant damage and claiming at least nine lives. The storm, which caused flooding and destroyed many coastal homes and businesses, is still remembered as one of the state's most destructive natural disasters.

4. The Soviet ice hockey team visited Rhode Island on November 17, 1989, playing an exhibition game against the Providence Bruins. The game, which ended in a 6-6 tie, was part of a series of friendly competitions between the Soviet team and American hockey teams.

5. November 17, 2003 saw the opening of the Providence Place Mall, a major shopping and entertainment center located in downtown Providence. The mall features over 150 stores and restaurants, a movie theater, and an outdoor skating rink, and has become a popular destination for both tourists and locals.