1. Rhode Island officially became a state: On September 14, 1790, Rhode Island officially became the 13th state to join the United States of America. At the time, Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

2. Roger Williams founded Providence: On September 14, 1636, Roger Williams founded the city of Providence. Williams was a religious dissenter who believed in the separation of church and state. He was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony and founded Providence on the principles of religious tolerance and freedom.

3. Brown University was founded: On September 14, 1764, the College of Rhode Island, which would later become Brown University, was founded in Warren, Rhode Island. The college was named after Nicholas Brown Jr., a wealthy merchant who donated $5,000 to the school.

4. Great Hurricane of 1815: On September 14, 1815, Rhode Island was hit by the Great September Gale, a destructive hurricane that caused widespread damage throughout the state. It was the worst hurricane to hit Rhode Island in over 200 years, and it caused millions of dollars in damages.

5. First floating dry dock in the U.S.: On September 14, 1822, the first floating dry dock in the U.S. was launched in the Providence River. The dry dock was designed by Commodore John Rodgers and was used to repair and maintain naval ships. The dry dock was later purchased by the U.S. Navy and was used by the Navy until 1869.