This day in history

On this day in 1790, the first U.S. patent was issued to Samuel Hopkins for an apparatus used to make pearlash and potash (types of ash used for soap, leavening, fertilizer, and industry). The patent was signed by both President George Washington and future president Thomas Jefferson. The U.S. Patent Office had been created earlier […]

On this day in 1819, American novelist Herman Melville was born in New York, New York. He’s best-known for his feat of American literature, Moby-Dick. Melville had a colorful life. As a child, he experienced both lavish wealth and money troubles – though part of a prominent family, his merchant father went into bankruptcy, dying […]

On August 1, 1876, Colorado was admitted to the Union as our 38th state. The date is reflected in its nickname, “The Centennial State,” which refers to the 100th anniversary of American independence. With a beautiful landscape dominated by the Rocky Mountains, Colorado is home to 75% (!) of all U.S. land 10,000+ feet above […]

On August 2, 1776, members of the Second Continental Congress began signing the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though the document had been approved earlier (on July 4th as we all know), only president of Congress John Hancock’s name was printed on copies distributed that month. Did you know? The delegates were not ecstatic […]

On this day in 1790, the first United States Census began, fulfilling the Constitution’s requirement of a population count. The census was (and still is) important in determining representation. The first census asked only six questions and didn't record any names aside from the head of household. Did you know? In every census from 1790-to […]

On this day in 1901, musician Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. A stupendous trumpeter and vocalist, he is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of jazz music. 🎺🎶🎷🎶🎺 Born in one of the poorest neighborhoods of New Orleans to a single mother, Armstrong’s beginnings were not privileged. As […]

On this day in 1735, newspaper publisher John Peter Zenger was acquitted of seditious libel for publishing critical pieces on the royal governor of New York. The ruling laid the groundwork for freedom of the press in America. 🇺🇸 🗞 🔏 🗞 🇺🇸 At the time, under English common law, seditious libel was defined as […]

On August 6, 1861, First Lady Edith Roosevelt was born in Norwich, Connecticut. Wife to the inimitable Theodore Roosevelt, Edith’s marriage was preceded by a long friendship with Theodore and his family that dated back to infancy. 👶🧒 With her husband often away, Roosevelt proved strong and capable, often running a household of six children […]

August 7 is National Lighthouse Day! On that day in 1789, Congress approved a law enacting federal support for the establishment of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers. ⛵️🛥🛳 There are roughly 700 lighthouses in the United States. The first one in the country was established on Little Brewster Island near Boston in 1716. The […]

Today is National Purple Heart Day! On this day in 1782, George Washington ordered the creation of the Badge of Military Merit, the direct predecessor to the Purple Heart. It is the oldest American military award still presented to service members. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 Washington was motivated to honor the bravery of common soldiers – […]

August 9 is National Book Lovers Day! Several of the founding fathers liked to read, but only one devised a contraption to read multiple books at once. Thomas Jefferson’s revolving bookstand had room for five books or letters and could be spun around to the reading that most struck one’s fancy. 📚📖📚 The Library, Felix […]

On August 10, 1821, Missouri was admitted to the Union as our 24th state. Missouri is home to the tallest manmade monument in the United States. What is it? The Gateway Arch in St. Louis! The arch marks the city’s role as a gateway to the western United States. Missouri was also home to the […]

On this day in 1874, 31st president Herbert Hoover was born in West Branch, Iowa. His presidency, running from 1929-to 1933, is best-remembered for taking place during the start of the Great Depression. Hoover favored relief at the local and state levels, instead of direct federal involvement. His Depression policies were unpopular, and his presidential […]

Bowling dates back to the ancient world – a set of pins and a ball were found in an ancient Egyptian tomb! – but has proven to be massively popular in the United States. Did you know? Dutchmen in New York (once New Amsterdam) enjoyed bowling in the colonial era and the oldest park in […]

On this day in 1860, American sharpshooter and showwoman Annie Oakley were born in Darke County, Ohio. She began her shooting career at the age of 8 in order to help support her large family. She not only put food on the table but was able to pay off the family’s mortgage by selling her […]

On this day in 1937, the Appalachian Trail was formally completed. The hiking trail, covering over 2,000 miles and passing through 14 states, was conceived as a way to enjoy the wilderness and mountains of the eastern United States. The trail runs from its southern terminus at Springer Mountain, Georgia to a northern terminus at […]

On this day in 1786, American frontiersman and folk legend Davy Crockett was born in Greene County, Tennessee. A colorful figure, Crockett fought in the War of 1812, as well as the American Indian Wars, and served in Congress for the state of Tennessee. His move to Texas and death at the Battle of the […]

On August 15, 1860, First Lady Florence Harding was born in Marion, Ohio. She proved herself and independent woman from a young age, eloping then divorcing her first husband, serving as business manager for a local newspaper, and overseeing the future president’s finances and calendar. Despite the scandals of the Harding administration, the First Lady […]

  August 16 is National Rum Day! Rum was the preferred liquor of choice in colonial America and politicians running for office (including George Washington!) commonly provided it to voters. 🥃🥃🥃 In most cities, it was easier to get rum than whiskey – this changed after the Revolution as the U.S. began producing more whiskey […]

On August 17, 1978, the first transatlantic balloon trip was completed as three Americans (Max Anderson, Ben Abruzzo, and Larry Newman) landed their helium balloon, Double Eagle II, in France. 🎈🎈🎈 The trip, which began in Maine, took one week to complete and was the first successful attempt after over a dozen tries by other […]

On August 18, 1774, Meriwether Lewis, famous explorer and co-captain of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was born in near Charlottesville, Virginia. Before the famous expedition, he served in the military and as presidential secretary to Thomas Jefferson. Did you know? Lewis met William Clark after being court-martialed. Though he was acquitted of charges that […]

On this day in 1590, John White, the governor of the Roanoke Colony, returned from a supply trip to England to find that all of the colony’s 100+ inhabitants had disappeared. The Lost Colony is still one of the great unsolved mysteries of American history. Though White found remnants of the colonists, such as maps, […]

On this day in 1833, 23rd president Benjamin Harrison was born in North Bend, Ohio. He is the only president to have been the grandson of another president (William Henry Harrison). Harrison’s administration was marked by tariff issues and vigorous foreign policy measures, including the first meeting of the Pan American Congress. The Sherman Antitrust […]

On August 21, 1959, Hawaii was admitted to the Union as our 50th (and most recent) state. It is the only state outside of North America and the only state in the tropics. The state holds a special place in American hearts for its culture, beauty, and balmy weather. Did you know? The people of […]

August 24 is National Waffle Day! 🧇🧇🧇 Did you know that Americans have been enjoying waffles for some 400 years? Dutch Americans in New Amsterdam (later New York) and the Mid-Atlantic brought waffles with them from Europe. Thought they have European roots, Americans have made waffles distinctly our own – both maple syrup (a North […]

On this day in 1814, the British began burning Washington, D.C. during the War of 1812. The event was arguably the most devastating blow to American morale during the war, as important landmarks such as the White House and the U.S. Capitol Building (which contained the Library of Congress) were substantially destroyed or damaged by […]

On August 25, 1916, the United States National Park Service was created to preserve the nation’s important “natural and cultural resources” for its citizens and all future generations of Americans. At the time, there were 35 national parks and monuments in the country, including Yellowstone National Park (the oldest national park, established in 1872). Today, […]

On this day in 1916, the United States National Park Service was created to preserve the nation’s important “natural and cultural resources” for its citizens and all future generations of Americans. At the time, there were 35 national parks and monuments in the country, including Yellowstone National Park (the oldest national park, established in 1872). […]

On this day in 1908, 36th president Lyndon Baines Johnson was born near Stonewall, Texas. The successor to John F. Kennedy, President Johnson faced American involvement in the Vietnam War (and its decrease in popularity), implemented Great Society and Medicare programming, and signed new civil rights legislation into law. Did you know? Before launching a […]

On August 28, 1831, First Lady Lucy Hayes was born in Chillicothe, Ohio. Lucy was an extremely popular First Lady and was admired for her care for veterans, orphans, and the poor. Though she’s well-known for her nickname “Lemonade Lucy” 🍋🍋🍋 (a reference to the no-alcohol policy of the Hayes White House), Hayes was much […]

On this day in 1963, the March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech took place on the National Mall in Washington D.C. The gathering served as a response to racial discrimination and recent violent attacks on civil rights leaders. The March came about as a combination of two planned […]

On this day in 1632, English philosopher John Locke was born in Wrington, England. His ideas of liberalism, natural law, and positive government were influential on the American founders and their formulations of proper government and its purpose. Thomas Jefferson likely referred to Locke while writing the Declaration of Independence. 📝📝📝 Did you know? We […]

August 30 is National Beach Day! 🏖🏊‍♂️🍹 America’s first public beach wasn’t established until 1896. Revere Beach, in Massachusetts near Boston, is still open to the public today and is honored as a National Historic Landmark. Did you know? The most popular beaches in America include Huntington Beach (in southern California), Panama City Beach (in […]

On September 1, 1878, teenaged Emma Nutt became the world’s first female telephone operator as she began work at Boston’s Edwin Holmes Telephone Dispatch Company. ☎🎙🎧 Hired by Alexander Graham Bell himself, Nutt didn’t just break norms, but ushered in an entirely new era. By the end of the 1880s, nearly every telephone operator was […]

On this day in 1752, the Liberty Bell arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At first, the Liberty Bell had little to do with American independence. The Pennsylvania Assembly commissioned the bell to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of William Penn’s 1701 Charter of Privileges (Pennsylvania’s original constitution). Did you know? The Liberty Bell has a long history […]

On this day in 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, formally ending the Revolutionary War. 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇫🇷 Though we often remember the Battle of Yorktown (1781) as the effective end of the war in the colonies, it wasn’t for two more years that the war would be officially ended and the United States […]