1. In 1638, the first Swedish settlement in North America was established in Delaware. This settlement was located near present-day Wilmington and was named Fort Christina.

2. On April 12, 1861, the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This event sparked widespread conflict in the United States and led to Delaware's decision to remain a Union state during the war.

3. In 1881, the state of Delaware officially adopted the blue hen as its state bird. This bird was chosen for its reputation as a fierce fighter and symbolizes Delaware's revolutionary history.

4. On April 12, 1913, Delaware became the first state to institute a minimum wage law. This law required employers to pay workers a minimum of 25 cents per hour, which was the highest minimum wage in the country at the time.

5. In 1974, Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium. This historic moment broke Babe Ruth's long-standing record and is remembered as one of the greatest moments in baseball history. While this event did not occur in Delaware, it is significant to the state's sports history as Aaron played several games at Wilmington's Frawley Stadium during his minor league career.