1. In 1663, the Royal Charter of Rhode Island was granted by King Charles II, giving the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations the right to govern itself independently from England. This charter is still considered a cornerstone of Rhode Island's political identity today.

2. On March 21, 1776, Rhode Island declared itself the first of the thirteen American colonies to renounce allegiance to the British Crown, just a few months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

3. In 1874, the Pawtucket Red Stockings played their first baseball game, marking the beginning of a long and storied tradition of professional baseball in Rhode Island. Today, the team is known as the Pawtucket Red Sox and plays in nearby Worcester, Massachusetts.

4. March 21, 1909 was the date of the first flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft in Rhode Island, when aviator Harry Atwood flew his plane from Providence to Boston. This historic flight helped to establish Rhode Island as one of the early centers of aviation in the United States.

5. On March 21, 1922, the Rhode Island State House was officially dedicated, marking the completion of one of the largest state capitol buildings in the country. The building, which features a large dome and neoclassical architecture, continues to serve as the seat of Rhode Island's government today.