1. Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution, and it finally did so on March 2, 1790. This ended the state's almost three-year-long period of independence from the federal government.
2. On March 2, 1855, the Rhode Island State House was officially opened to the public. The State House is one of the most prominent landmarks in Providence and the primary seat of government for the state.
3. On March 2, 1923, President Warren G. Harding signed a bill allocating funds for a new Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. The college, which opened in 1884, was relocated to Newport in 1892 and remains there to this day.
4. In 1972, the Providence Civic Center (now the Dunkin' Donuts Center) opened on March 2. The arena has been a major venue for concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment in Rhode Island.
5. Rhode Island-born painter Gilbert Stuart completed his famous portrait of George Washington on March 2, 1796. The painting, known as the "Lansdowne portrait," was commissioned by Senator William Bingham and now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
← Older Post Newer Post →