1. In 1862, the first ironclad ship built in the United States, the USS Monitor, was launched from Greenport, Connecticut. The ship played a key role in the Union Navy's efforts during the American Civil War.

2. On January 31, 1971, the Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team defeated the University of Massachusetts 85-82 in overtime. The win marked the first ever game played at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, the iconic home court of the Huskies.

3. In 1839, the Hartford and New Haven Railroad began passenger service between the two cities. This was one of the first successful steam-powered railroads in the United States and played a major role in the industrialization of the region.

4. On January 31, 1945, Private First Class Frank D. Peregory of New Haven was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Allied invasion of Normandy in World War II. Peregory was killed while leading a charge against enemy forces.

5. On this day in 1795, the Connecticut State House (now known as the Old State House) was completed in Hartford. The building served as the state capitol until 1878 and is now a popular museum and tourist attraction.