1. In 1814, the British Navy blockaded Massachusetts Bay during the War of 1812. This caused major disruptions in maritime trade and transportation throughout the state.

2. On August 24, 1857, the Springfield Armory produced its last musket, marking the end of its role as a major supplier of firearms for the United States military. The armory had been in operation since 1794.

3. In 1954, Hurricane Carol made landfall in Massachusetts, causing significant damage and flooding along the coast. The storm was responsible for 68 deaths and $460 million in damages (adjusted for inflation).

4. On August 24, 1989, the state legislature approved a bill designating the cranberry as the official state berry of Massachusetts. Cranberry farming has been an important industry in the state for centuries, with over 14,000 acres of bogs currently in operation.

5. In 2006, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced it had developed a new battery that could potentially revolutionize the way we store and use energy. The prototype of the "nano-wire battery" was created using silicon wires 1/100th the width of a human hair, and could someday be used to power everything from cell phones to electric cars.