1. In 1649, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a law that established the first militia in the American colonies. The law required every able-bodied man in the colony to serve in the militia and to own a musket or other firearm.

2. In 1781, during the American Revolutionary War, Benedict Arnold led a British expedition to attack Richmond, Virginia. Arnold, who was born and raised in Connecticut, had been a key American general before betraying the Continental Army and defecting to the British.

3. In 1820, the Connecticut Historical Society was founded in Hartford. The society's mission is to collect, preserve, and share the history of the state and its people.

4. In 1933, the Connecticut Opera was founded in Hartford. The company has produced dozens of operas over the years and has become a thriving cultural institution in the state.

5. In 2013, the city of New Haven was named the fourth-best small city in the United States by a national magazine. The city was recognized for its vibrant arts scene, historic architecture, and world-renowned universities.