1. In 1776, the Rhode Island General Assembly unanimously voted to renounce its allegiance to the British Crown, making it the first colony to do so.

2. On May 9, 1842, the Dorr Rebellion reached its peak, as armed protesters stormed the Rhode Island State House in an attempt to install a new government that would expand voting rights to all white male citizens.

3. The Newport Casino, a historic social club and tennis venue, was opened to great fanfare on May 9, 1880. The building, which also housed a theater, ballroom, and restaurant, served as a hub of Newport's elite social scene for many years.

4. On May 9, 1901, the America's Cup yacht race was held off the coast of Newport. The vessel Columbia defeated the British challenger, Shamrock II, in the first of many historic America's Cup matches hosted by Rhode Island.

5. In 1951, Rhode Island native Bobby Thompson hit his famous "Shot Heard 'Round the World" home run, clinching the National League pennant for the New York Giants and cementing his place in baseball history. The game-winning hit is often cited as one of the greatest moments in sports history.