1. The Gaspee Affair took place on December 22, 1772, in Providence, Rhode Island. A group of American colonists, frustrated with the British Admiralty’s enforcement of various trade regulations, ambushed and burned the Gaspee, a British ship tasked with enforcing customs laws, in Narragansett Bay. This event was one of the earliest acts of open rebellion leading up to the American Revolution.

2. On December 22, 1881, the Sakonnet River Bridge opened to the public in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. At the time, it was the longest bridge in New England and served as a vital transportation link between Newport and Tiverton. The original wooden structure was replaced with a steel bridge in 1963.

3. Rhode Island’s first medical school, Brown Medical School, was founded in Providence on December 22, 1811. Today, it is known as the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and is considered one of the top medical schools in the United States.

4. On December 22, 1964, the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island, was designated a National Historic Landmark. Built in 1880, the complex was originally designed as a social club for wealthy Americans, but today serves as a popular museum and event space.

5. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management was officially established on December 22, 1971. The department is responsible for managing the state’s natural resources, including forests, beaches, and wildlife. Rhode Island is known for its beautiful coastline and pristine nature, and the department plays an important role in preserving these resources for future generations.