1. On March 23, 1775, Rhode Island joined the Continental Association, which was an agreement between the colonies to boycott British goods as a protest against the British Parliament's taxation without representation policies.

2. In 1839, Roger Williams University was founded in Bristol, RI. It is named after the founder of Rhode Island, Roger Williams, who believed in the separation of church and state.

3. On March 23, 1866, the Rhode Island General Assembly voted to abolish slavery in the state. Rhode Island was the first of the original 13 colonies to take this action.

4. In 1936, The Providence Journal Building, now known as the Journal Building, opened in downtown Providence. It is an iconic Art Deco structure and was one of the first skyscrapers built in the city.

5. On March 23, 1995, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex couples who were seeking the legal right to marry. This decision was groundbreaking at the time and paved the way for marriage equality in the state and across the country.