1. In 1777, on October 4th, the Independent Republic of Vermont was established. At this time Vermont was a self-declared independent state in northeastern North America. It existed from January 15, 1777 to March 4, 1791.
2. The invention of the electric washing machine was patented in Vermont on October 4th, 1927. This revolutionized the way laundry was done and changed everyday life for millions of people around the world.
3. In 1960, the first televised debate between presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon was broadcast on October 4th. The debate took place at the studios of WRC-TV in Washington, D.C. and was watched by millions of people across the country.
4. The Ethan Allen Homestead Museum in Burlington, Vermont was established on October 4th, 1952. The museum is dedicated to the memory of Ethan Allen, a Revolutionary War hero and one of the founders of the state of Vermont.
5. The Champlain Bridge, which spans Lake Champlain between Vermont and New York, was officially opened on October 4th, 2011. The new bridge replaced the original bridge, which had been closed in 2009 due to safety concerns. The new bridge features wider lanes, concrete barriers, and state-of-the-art safety features.