1. In 1667, the town of Warwick in Rhode Island was officially incorporated. It was named after Warwickshire, England and is now known for its historic sites, including the John Waterman Arnold House Museum and the Warwick Neck Lighthouse.

2. On June 25, 1775, the Continental Congress commissioned Esek Hopkins as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Navy, making him the first publicly recognized naval commander in American history. Hopkins was a Rhode Island native and led the naval forces during the American Revolution.

3. In 1788, Rhode Island became the 13th state to ratify the United States Constitution, following a long period of debate and opposition. Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 colonies to join the Union.

4. On June 25, 1898, the USS Iowa, a battleship built in Rhode Island, was commissioned into the United States Navy. The Iowa saw action during the Spanish-American War and was later used as a training ship before being decommissioned in 1919.

5. In 1945, the United Nations Charter was signed in San Francisco, California. Rhode Island Senator Theodore Francis Green played a role in the negotiations leading up to the signing of the charter and was one of the signatories on behalf of the United States. The UN has since become a major international organization, with its headquarters located in New York City.