1. Delaware was officially granted statehood on October 28, 1787, becoming the first state to ratify the United States Constitution.
2. On October 28, 1875, Delaware College (now the University of Delaware) held its first classes. At the time, it was a land-grant university focused on agriculture and engineering.
3. One of Delaware's most famous landmarks, the Delaware Breakwater Lighthouse, was first lit on October 28, 1885. It was built to guide ships safely into the Delaware River.
4. On October 28, 1967, one of the deadliest fires in Delaware's history occurred at the DuPont Plaza Hotel in Wilmington. The fire killed 33 people and injured over 100.
5. Wilmington's historic Grand Opera House reopened after extensive renovations on October 28, 1976. The theater first opened in 1871 and has hosted famous performers like George M. Cohan and Ethel Barrymore.