1) In 1879, the Connecticut State Library was officially established by the state legislature. Today, it is one of the largest state libraries in the country and serves as a repository for historical and cultural materials.

2) In 1944, the first ever fluoridation of a public water supply was initiated in New Britain, Connecticut. This landmark public health initiative aimed to reduce dental decay and has since been implemented in communities worldwide.

3) In 1961, the iconic Connecticut Huskies mascot made its debut during a football game against Rhode Island. Since then, the beloved mascot has become synonymous with UConn athletics and is adored by fans across the state.

4) In 1999, Connecticut became the first state in the nation to enact a statewide assault weapons ban. The landmark law was passed in response to the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

5) In 2016, Yale University announced that it would rename one of its residential colleges in honor of alumna Grace Murray Hopper. Hopper, who earned her PhD in mathematics from Yale in 1934, made groundbreaking contributions to computer science and helped develop the modern programming language COBOL.