1. Vermont was the first state to abolish slavery and May 29 is celebrated as Emancipation Day in the state. On this day in 1865, Vermont abolished slavery in its state constitution, a full three years before the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution officially abolished slavery nationwide.

2. On May 29, 1874, the Vermont State Capitol building, which still sits in Montpelier today, was dedicated. Designed by architect Thomas Silloway, the capitol is known for its distinctive gold dome and is an iconic landmark in Vermont.

3. May 29, 1913, marks the day that the University of Vermont conferred honorary degrees on six women, a historic moment as UVM was one of the first universities in the United States to grant degrees to women.

4. In 1931, on this day, Governor John E. Weeks signed a bill to create the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. This department continues to oversee the management and conservation of Vermont's fish and wildlife resources to this day.

5. On May 29, 1909, the Vermont Marble Company sent a 24-ton block of marble from its quarry in Danby to be used in the construction of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The block was the largest to ever leave Vermont at the time and played a significant role in the construction of the iconic national monument.