1. On July 28, 1866, the first Atlantic Cable was successfully laid, connecting the United States and Europe for the first time. The cable was landed in Eastham, Massachusetts and marked a major milestone in communication history.

2. In 1932, the Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles, California, and Massachusetts-born swimmer Buster Crabbe won the gold medal in the men's 400-meter freestyle event.

3. On July 28, 1954, Ellis Island, the immigration station in New York Harbor, closed its doors after serving as the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States, including many who settled in Massachusetts.

4. In 1974, Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy gave a nationally televised speech to the Democratic National Convention in Miami, Florida, in which he called for national healthcare reform and criticized the Nixon administration's policies on healthcare.

5. On July 28, 2010, Boston Celtics Hall of Fame player Kevin McHale was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. McHale helped lead the Celtics to three NBA Championships during his career in Boston.