April 1st may be known as April Fool's Day, but in Massachusetts, it has its own unique history. Here are five interesting facts about April 1st in Massachusetts history.

1. The start of the American Revolutionary War: On April 1, 1775, General Thomas Gage ordered British troops to march from Boston to Lexington and Concord to seize ammunition and weapons that were being stored by the colonists. This ultimately led to the start of the American Revolutionary War.

2. The creation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): On April 1, 1865, the Massachusetts General Court granted a charter to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, allowing it to officially become a university. Today, MIT is one of the most prestigious universities in the world and has produced numerous Nobel laureates and Rhodes scholars.

3. The end of Prohibition: On April 1, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Cullen-Harrison Act, which allowed for the sale of 3.2% beer and wine. This effectively ended the era of Prohibition, which had been in effect since 1920.

4. The opening of the Boston Marathon to women: On April 1, 1972, the Boston Athletic Association officially began allowing women to compete in the Boston Marathon for the first time. An inaugural group of eight women participated in the marathon that year, including eventual winner Nina Kuscsik.

5. The legalization of same-sex marriage: On April 1, 2004, Massachusetts became the first state in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage. This landmark decision was made by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and paved the way for other states to follow suit in the years that followed.