1. In 1658, the Rhode Island colonists passed a law granting religious liberty to all, making it the first colony to do so.
2. On May 3, 1775, the residents of Rhode Island declared their allegiance to the cause of American independence by approving the resolution that called for the creation of a Continental Army.
3. The USS Scorpion (SS-278), a submarine that served during World War II, was launched on May 3, 1942 in Groton, Connecticut with many Rhode Islanders involved in its construction.
4. In 1961, Rhode Island became the first state in the United States to pass an open housing law, prohibiting racial discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing.
5. May 3, 2004 marked the opening of the University of Rhode Island's College of Pharmacy, making it the first public pharmacy school in the state's history.