1. On October 11, 1775, the first naval battle of the American Revolutionary War took place off the coast of Machias, Maine - which was, at the time, part of New Hampshire. Under the leadership of Captain Jeremiah O'Brien, a group of American colonists led a successful attack against the British warship Margaretta, capturing the vessel and taking control of the region's waters.

2. On October 11, 1853, the famous abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass delivered a speech in Concord, New Hampshire, calling for the full abolition of slavery in the United States. Douglass had escaped from slavery himself in 1838, and his passionate advocacy played a key role in the eventual end of the practice in America.

3. On October 11, 1890, the New Hampshire State House - one of the most iconic and recognizable buildings in the state - was officially dedicated in Concord. The domed structure occupies a prominent place in the city's downtown area and has been the site of countless historic events and political decisions over the years.

4. On October 11, 1907, a devastating fire destroyed much of downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire, including several historic buildings and landmarks. The blaze began in a shoe factory and quickly spread thanks to high winds and a lack of firefighting equipment. Despite the massive loss, the city was eventually rebuilt and thrived in the years that followed.

5. On October 11, 2004, the New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples in the state could not be denied the right to marry under the state's constitution. The decision was a landmark moment in the fight for marriage equality, and eventually helped pave the way for similar rulings in other parts of the country.