1. In 1775, Rhode Island declared its independence from Great Britain on April 18, two months before the Continental Congress declared independence on July 4.

2. The USS Rhode Island, the first ship in the US Navy to bear the state's name, was commissioned on April 18, 1861, during the American Civil War.

3. Rhode Island native General Ambrose Burnside, who later became the governor of the state, was born on April 18, 1824. He is best known for his leadership during the Civil War, as well as for his distinctive facial hair style, the "sideburn."

4. On April 18, 1906, a devastating earthquake struck San Francisco, California, which had a ripple effect on the economy, including the fishing industry in Rhode Island. Many boats were sent to the West Coast to help with the disaster relief efforts.

5. The Providence Bruins, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Boston Bruins, played their first playoff game on April 18, 1992, at the Providence Civic Center. The team has since won four Calder Cup championships.