1. In 1775, the Battle of Bunker Hill took place in Massachusetts, which was a significant event in the American Revolutionary War. While this battle did not happen in Rhode Island, it was a crucial moment in American history that Rhode Islanders would have undoubtedly known about and been affected by.

2. In 1859, the Providence and Worcester Railroad line opened, connecting the cities of Providence and Worcester, Massachusetts. This rail line would become an important transportation artery for goods and people between the two states.

3. On June 21, 1938, a tornado swept through Rhode Island and Connecticut, causing significant damage and loss of life. The town of Cranston, Rhode Island was particularly hard hit, with dozens of homes destroyed and several people killed.

4. In 1995, the National Park Service designated the Blackstone River Valley as a National Heritage Corridor. This region, which spans Massachusetts and Rhode Island, played a significant role in the Industrial Revolution and is now a popular recreational area.

5. June 21, 2014 was a significant day for the Rhode Island LGBT community, as it marked the first day that same-sex couples could legally marry in the state. Rhode Island was the last state in New England to legalize same-sex marriage, and the law went into effect on this date after being signed by Governor Lincoln Chafee earlier in the year.