1. In 1792, the first state constitution was ratified in Windsor, Vermont. This constitution established Vermont as the first state to prohibit slavery in its constitution and also provided for universal male suffrage.

2. On August 7, 1845, Burlington became the first city in Vermont to establish a professional fire department. The department was originally comprised of just eight volunteers, but has since grown into a modern, full-time organization.

3. The Vermont State Fair, one of the oldest fairs in the country, was first held on August 7, 1849, in Rutland. The fair has been held every year since, except for during times of war and a brief hiatus in the early 20th century.

4. In 1927, Vermont's Mount Mansfield became the site of the country's first ski lift. The lift, known as the "Snow Tram," could carry up to eight skiers at a time and had a maximum elevation of 4,315 feet.

5. On August 7, 1959, Vermont native Robert Frost was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Frost, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, had lived and worked in Vermont for many years and frequently incorporated the state's natural beauty into his work.