1. In 1787, the state of Delaware became the first state to ratify the United States Constitution, making May 12 a significant day in American history.
2. On May 12, 1961, civil rights leader and activist, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech at the University of Delaware in Newark, urging students to become involved in the fight for racial equality.
3. On May 12, 2008, the Delaware Memorial Bridge celebrated its 50th anniversary. The bridge, which spans the Delaware River, connects Delaware to New Jersey and is an important transport link for the region.
4. Delaware's first African American congressman, Thomas R. Carper, was elected on May 12, 1982. He went on to serve as governor of Delaware and as a United States Senator.
5. May 12, 2013 marked the centennial anniversary of the Hershey chocolate factory opening in Wilmington, Delaware. The factory was built to supply chocolate for Hershey's Kisses and other candies, and is still in operation today.