1. In 1622, Roger Williams arrived in Boston from England. Williams went on to found the city of Providence, which eventually became the capital of Rhode Island.

2. In 1774, the Rhode Island legislature voted to close the port of Newport to all trade as a result of the ongoing tensions with Great Britain. This was one of the first acts of resistance against British rule in the colonies.

3. In 1872, the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) was founded in Providence. Today, RISD is considered one of the top art and design schools in the world.

4. In 1922, the world's first radio news broadcast occurred in Westerly, Rhode Island. The broadcast was made by station WBZ in Boston, which used a new type of transmitter that allowed it to be heard in Rhode Island.

5. In 1983, a massive snowstorm hit Rhode Island, dumping more than 2 feet of snow in some areas. The storm caused widespread power outages and travel disruptions, and resulted in several deaths. The storm is still considered one of the worst to ever hit Rhode Island.