1. In 1631, a ship named "The Lyon" arrived in Massachusetts with over 100 passengers, including Reverend John Eliot. Eliot would go on to become known as the "Apostle to the Indians," devoting his life to converting Native Americans to Christianity and translating the Bible into their languages.

2. In 1777, the Battle of Grape Island took place during the American Revolution. A British fleet attempted to raid a salt works on Grape Island in Boston Harbor, but were deterred by American forces and forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses.

3. In 1851, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was founded in Boston. Originally focused on applied sciences and engineering, the university has since expanded to offer programs in a wide range of fields.

4. In 1920, the first public radio station in the United States, WBZ, began broadcasting in Massachusetts. The station continues to operate today, featuring news, talk, and music programming.

5. In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage. The decision was made by the state's Supreme Judicial Court in the landmark case Goodridge v. Department of Public Health.