1) Massachusetts became the first state to officially recognize January 1 as New Year's Day in 1782, following the adoption of the Gregorian calendar by the United States.

2) The Boston Public Library, the first public library in the United States, opened its doors on January 1, 1854, providing access to knowledge and education for all people.

3) On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in Confederate-controlled areas were to be set free.

4) The Great Boston Molasses Disaster occurred on January 1, 1919, when a large storage tank filled with molasses burst, sending a wave of sugary liquid through the streets and causing 21 deaths and injuring 150 people.

5) In 2004, same-sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts on January 1, becoming the first state to offer marriage equality to all couples.