1. On September 3, 1777, the British attacked Providence, Rhode Island during the American Revolutionary War. The attack ended in a British defeat, and it would be the last time the British attempted to capture Providence.

2. In 1843, the first successful test of a submarine occurred in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island. The submarine, called the USS Alligator, was designed by Navy Lieutenant William B. Allen.

3. On September 3, 1971, the Providence Performing Arts Center officially opened its doors to the public. The theater, which was originally built in 1928, underwent a major renovation in the 1970s and is now one of the busiest performing arts venues in New England.

4. In 1991, Hurricane Bob made landfall in Rhode Island, causing significant damage and several deaths. The Category 2 storm caused widespread power outages and flooding, and it remains one of the most destructive hurricanes to hit the state.

5. On September 3, 2009, Brown University announced that it had reached an agreement with the Rhode Island School of Design to share library resources. The partnership allows students and faculty at both institutions to access a greater range of resources and materials.