1. In 1901, Annie Edson Taylor, the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel, was born in Auburn, New York. Later in her life, she moved to Connecticut and lived in several towns throughout the state.

2. In 1818, Connecticut became the first state to enact a law requiring school attendance for children between the ages of 7 and 14. The law was called "An Act for the Encouragement and Support of Common Schools."

3. On May 24, 1941, the USS Nereus (AS-17) was commissioned in New London, Connecticut. The Nereus was a submarine tender that served during World War II and the Korean War.

4. In 1856, a train accident occurred in Norwalk, Connecticut, when an express train collided with a local train. The accident resulted in the death of several passengers and became known as the "Norwalk disaster."

5. On May 24, 1861, the first volunteer soldiers from Connecticut left the state for the Civil War. The soldiers belonged to the 2nd Connecticut Regiment and were mustered into service for three months. They saw action in several battles, including First Bull Run and Second Bull Run.