1. Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the United States Constitution. On June 4, 1790, Rhode Island finally ratified the new Constitution – two and a half years after George Washington had been inaugurated as the first President of the United States.

2. On June 4, 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain. This conflict, known as the War of 1812, lasted for over two years and had a significant impact on Rhode Island’s economy and its role in international trade.

3. The Battle of Newport took place on June 4, 1778, during the American Revolution. A British fleet under the command of General Richard Prescott attempted to invade Rhode Island but was repelled by the Continental Army and French forces under the command of General John Sullivan.

4. On June 4, 1902, the famous American architect Richard Morris Hunt died in Newport, Rhode Island. Hunt was responsible for designing many notable buildings, including the base of the Statue of Liberty and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

5. The Rhode Island State House was dedicated on June 4, 1904. The building, which is located in Providence, is considered one of the finest examples of neoclassical architecture in the United States and serves as the primary seat of government for the state of Rhode Island.