1) On August 5, 1781, the Battle of Groton Heights took place in New London County during the American Revolutionary War. British troops, under the command of Benedict Arnold, attacked Fort Griswold and killed over 80 Americans.

2) August 5, 1872, marks the birth of Thomas J. Dodd, a Connecticut Senator and lawyer who served as the chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials after World War II.

3) The USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine, was commissioned on August 5, 1954, in Groton, Connecticut. The Nautilus was the first submarine to complete a submerged transit of the North Pole.

4) On August 5, 1984, the city of Danbury hosted the first annual Connecticut Renaissance Faire, which became an annual event. The festival features medieval-themed performances, crafts, and food.

5) The Mark Twain House and Museum, located in Hartford, Connecticut, opened to the public on August 5, 2003, after extensive restoration work. The museum is the former home of author Mark Twain and now serves as a cultural center and landmark.