Our nation’s smallest state is celebrating a big birthday today! Happy 220^th to the Ocean State!

While it may be small in size, the state of Rhode Island has a big history! To learn a little more about Rhode Island’s early days, check out visitrhodeisland.com!

Roger Williams founded the first permanent white settlement in Rhode Island at Providence in 1636 on land purchased from the Narragansett Indians. Forced to flee Massachusetts because of persecution, Williams established a policy of religious and political freedom in his new settlement. Other leaders advocating freedom of worship soon established similar communities on either side of Narragansett Bay. These communities united, and in 1663 King Charles II of England granted them a royal charter, providing for a greater degree of self-government than any other colony in the New World and authorizing the continuation of freedom of religion.

The early 1700s was a period of prosperity for Rhode Island. Farming and sea trading became profitable businesses. Providence and Newport were among the busiest ports in the New World. Despite making profits from the slave trade, Rhode Island was the first colony to prohibit the importation of slaves.

At the start of the Revolutionary War, Rhode Islanders were among the first colonists to take action against British rule by attacking British vessels. On May 4, 1776, Rhode Island was the first colony to renounce allegiance to Great Britain and declare independence. Although no major battles took place in the state, Rhode Island regiments participated in every major campaign of the war. Rhode Islanders such as General Nathanael Greene, second-in-command to General George Washington, and Commodore Esek Hopkins, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy, distinguished themselves as military leaders and heroes. The first Black regiment to fight for America made a gallant stand against the British in the Battle of Rhode Island.

Rhode Island’s independent spirit was still in evidence at the close of the Revolutionary War. It was the last of the 13 original colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution, demanding that the Bill of Rights, which guarantees individual liberties, be added.

Following the Revolution, industrial growth began in Rhode Island. In 1793, Samuel Slater’s mill in Pawtucket became America’s first successful water-powered cotton mill. From this success, the Industrial Revolution in America began. In addition, the founding of the American jewelry industry by Nehemiah and Seril Dodge helped make Providence one of the chief industrial cities of New England by 1824. Jabez Gorham, jeweler and silversmith, was the forerunner of the world renowned Gorham Manufacturing Company.

As industrialization increased, Rhode Island’s cities expanded with immigration. New citizens looking for job opportunities came from a score of countries, mainly Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, and French Canada. Over the years, as these workers became assimilated into Rhode Island’s industrial structure, a tradition of manufacturing skill and excellence developed that is still an important asset for the state’s economy.

80 years ago today, the famous Chrysler building opened its doors for the very first time!

A New York treasure, the Chrysler building was once the tallest building in the world before losing its crown to Chicago’s Sears Tower – but you probably already knew that!

So what else is there to know about this historic building? I went to aviewoncities.com to learn a little more about this New York landmark!

A race for the tallest building
For Walter P. Chrysler, from the car manufacturer, building the tallest building in the world was a status symbol. The Chrysler building was in a race with the Bank of Manhattan (now 40 Wall Street) for obtaining the title of tallest building in the world. It looked like the Bank of Manhattan would win the race, with an expected height of 282 meter (927ft) against around 230 meter for the Chrysler building. But the spire of the Chrysler building was constructed in secret inside the tower.

Just one week after the Bank of Manhattan had reached its top, the spire of the Chrysler building was put in place, making it 318 meter (1045ft) high, thus beating the Bank of Manhattan as the tallest building in the world. It would not keep this title for long: one year later the Empire State Building was erected.

Art Deco
The Chrysler building is one of the last skyscrapers in the Art Deco style. The gargoyles depict Chrysler car ornaments and the spire is modeled on a radiator grille. Since it was restored in 1996 it glitters again like it must have in the 1930s.

And the building’s Art Deco interior is even more magnificent than its exterior. The marble floors and many Art Deco patterns such as on the stylish elevator doors make the Chrysler Building one of New York’s most beautiful office towers.

Popularity
The building’s design by architect William van Alen was largely dismissed by contemporary architecture critics, who claimed the spire’s design was kitsch and the tower nothing more than a folly.

But ever since its construction the popularity of the building has grown constantly, both among New Yorkers and architecture critics. It is now regarded as one of America’s greatest buildings, and the Chrysler Building is often on the cover of architectural books and magazines.

The View’s very own Elisabeth Hasselbeck is celebrating her 33^rd birthday today! Happy birthday Elisabeth!

Once a competitor on CBS’s hit show, Survivor, Elisabeth is now a TV star, sitting across the table from other daytime powerhouses including Whoopi Goldberg and Barbara Walters.

And speaking of The View, if you haven’t seen it yet, check out Choose You spokeswoman, Ellen Pompeo as she talks about our new movement with Elisabeth and all the ladies of The View