This day in history

On this day in 1690, the first American newspaper was published in Boston, Massachusetts, Publick Occurences Both Foreign and Domestick. Prior to this, only single-paged newspapers (called broadsides) had been published in the colonies. The first (and only) issue reported on smallpox, a deadly fire, French-English relations, and Native Americans in the region. 📰 📰 […]

  On September 26, 1774, American folk legend Johnny Appleseed was born in Leominster, Massachusetts as John Chapman. Chapman was instrumental in easing settlers’ movement west. Contrary to popular belief, his apple seeds and orchards didn’t provide fruit so much as alcoholic cider, an essential drink at the 19th century American’s table. 🍎🍺🍏🍺🍎🍺 Did you […]

On this day in 1722, revolutionary patriot Samuel Adams was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Adams was a particularly vocal supporter of American independence, boycotting British goods and serving as an important leader in the radical Sons of Liberty. He also wrote persuasive political pieces denouncing British taxes and later served in the new country’s Continental […]

On September 30, 1868, the first volume of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women was published. The novel, centering on a family of four girls whose father was away in the Civil War, was hugely popular from the start. 154 years later, it’s still a children’s classic, beloved for its themes of perseverance and family. 👩‍🦰👩‍🦰👩👧 […]

On October 1, 1832, First Lady Caroline Harrison was born in Oxford, Ohio. As First Lady, Harrison’s philanthropic efforts focused on women’s causes – she notably raised funds for Johns Hopkins medical school on the condition that it admit women. Caroline also had a love for history, music, dancing, and the arts. A music teacher, […]

On this day in 1908, Ford’s Model T went on sale for the first time. One of the first mass-production vehicles, the Model T is generally considered the first affordable automobile made for use by the general populace. Though modern cars existed long before the Model T, they were not particularly accessible to ordinary people. […]

October is National Seafood Month! The American seafood industry has been honored by Congress with this distinction for the past 30 years. It has operated for much longer of course, with both Native Americans and early settlers taking advantage of abundant fishing along the East Coast. 🦀🐟🦪🍤 Did you know? Though we view lobster as a […]

On October 2, 1968, Redwood National and State Parks were established in California. Coast redwoods are the tallest trees on earth, reaching heights of over 350 feet! These protected areas are home to the tallest tree in the world, the Hyperion, which is nearly 380 feet tall. 🌲🌲🌲 Did you know? Despite their enormous size, […]

On this day in 1822, 19th president Rutherford B. Hayes was born in Delaware, Ohio. The Hayes presidency was marked by the 1876 election (one of the most controversial in U.S. history), the end of Reconstruction, and a return to the gold standard. Before his presidency, much of Reconstruction had already ended and Republicans had […]

On this day in 1830, 21st president Chester A. Arthur was born in Fairfield, Vermont. An oft-overlooked president, his term was distinguished by reduced tariffs and civil service reform (something Arthur initially showed skepticism towards). A year into his presidency, Arthur became aware that he was suffering from fatal kidney disease. The disease was kept […]

On this day in 1871, the Great Chicago Fire began, destroying thousands of buildings and claiming roughly 300 lives over the course of three days. A dangerously dry summer and gusting winds made conditions in the Midwest ripe for fire – the same day that the Great Chicago Fire started, devastating fires also broke out […]

It’s National Chess Day! Celebrated each year on the second Saturday of October, the day encourages a greater appreciation for the game and gives chess enthusiasts another excuse to play. ♟♟♟ Some version of chess has been popular for over 1000 years! Several notable Americans played chess, including Benjamin Franklin, who waxed, “It is so […]

On October 11, 1884, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City. The wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor was a very popular and outspoken first lady. She was keenly interested in politics and led humanitarian efforts for the poor and disadvantaged. She was also our longest-serving first lady, as her husband was […]

On this day in 1901, the White House officially became “the White House”. Prior to Theodore Roosevelt’s order, the White House was officially called “the Executive Mansion.” Did you know? As a nickname, “the White House” dates back to 1798, when the new building was first whitewashed to protect its porous sandstone walls from freezing. […]

October 12 is National Farmer’s Day! On this day, we honor all the hard work done by America’s farmers to bring food to our tables. 🍞🌽🍎🥚 According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, 98% of the 2 million farms in the country are family businesses. 🐄🏡🐖🐓 Did you know? Less than 2% of America’s workforce […]

On this day in 1754, Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley (an inspiration for legendary Revolutionary War hero Molly Pitcher) was born near Trenton, New Jersey. Like many soldiers’ wives during the Revolution, McCauley followed her husband’s troop and performed mundane (but crucial) tasks like washing clothes and hauling water. Did you know? There is no definitive […]

Happy Birthday to the U.S. Navy! On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress voted to send two armed sailing vessels out to intercept ships carrying munitions and supplies to the British. From this tiny force of 160 patriots, the U.S. Navy eventually expanded to a mighty force of 300,000+ active duty members today. The Navy’s […]

On October 14, 1994, Saguaro National Park was established in Arizona. The park is home to the giant saguaro – the largest cactus in the United States and arguably the most recognizable symbol of the American West. Truly American, saguaros only grow in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, California, and Mexico, where they can exceed […]

On this day in 1890, 34th president Dwight D. Eisenhower was born in Denison, Texas. The Eisenhower administration was defined by Cold War relations, the beginning of desegregation in schools, and the creation of the Interstate Highway program. Did you know? Eisenhower came into office with a strong military background – as a 5-star general […]

On this day in 1859, abolitionist John Brown and his supporters began their raid on the Federal Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia. The group planned to seize the arsenal and free the slaves in town, with the hope that they would join in carrying out an insurrection. Though Brown was unsuccessful – he and […]

On this day in 1777, the British under General John Burgoyne surrendered at the Battle of Saratoga. The American victory was a turning point in the Revolution and helped convince foreign governments to ally themselves with the fight for American independence. Did you know? Famous traitor Benedict Arnold played a major part in the American […]

It’s National No Beard Day! Did you know? Nearly every U.S. president could celebrate this day – only 5 of our 46 presidents have worn beards, the first being Abraham Lincoln. 11-year-old Grace Bedell famously wrote to him, urging Abe to grow a beard: “I have got 4 brothers and part of them will vote […]

On this day in 1797, the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”) was launched in Boston Harbor. Still afloat in Boston today, the USS Constitution is the oldest ship commissioned in the United States Navy and the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. Did you know? George Washington named the Constitution. The nickname, “Old Ironsides,” was […]

On October 24, 1901, American school teacher Annie Edson Taylor, was the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. 🛢️🛢️🛢️ Why did she do it? Having fallen on hard times, Taylor hoped to raise her notoriety (and money) with the stunt. Despite her post-fall recommendation against it, several others have since made […]

75 years ago today, the first-ever photo of Earth from outer space was taken from the V-2 No. 13 rocket. Launched from White Sands, New Mexico, the rocket traveled 65 miles above Earth, where the photo was snapped with a 35mm camera. The camera, smashed beyond repair during descent, was survived by its film. An […]

On October 26, 1825, the Erie Canal opened as the first major manmade waterway in the United States. Running 363 miles from Albany to Buffalo, New York it was the longest artificial waterway in North America and connected the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River. Did you know? The canal was […]

On this day in 1881, the shootout at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona occurred as law enforcement consisting of the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday faced down the outlaw gang, “the Cowboys.” The two groups had been vying for control of the Tombstone area when tensions finally broke, leaving three outlaws dead within 30 […]

On October 27, 1787, the first of the Federalist Papers (Federalist 1) was published in The Independent Journal and The New York Packet. 🗞📰📝 Written by Alexander Hamilton under the pseudonym Publius, it was the first of a series of seventy-seven articles written along with James Madison and John Jay to address concerns about the […]

On this day in 1858, 26th president Theodore Roosevelt was born in New York, New York. Roosevelt (or Teddy as many still call him) is remembered for his progressive reforms and “trust-busting”, active hand in foreign policy, and “rough and ready” image. He was the youngest president ever. Did you know? While on the campaign […]

On October 29, 1929 (known as Black Tuesday), the stock market crashed, marking the beginning of the Great Depression. The worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world, the Depression would last a decade and cause mass unemployment, poverty, and hardship. Did you know? Despite the hardships of the 1930s, Americans still found […]

For roughly a quarter of Americans (particularly in the Northeast and parts of the Midwest), tonight is known as Mischief Night! (Or Cabbage Night, Devil’s Night, or Goosey Night depending on the region one lives in.) The night before Halloween is seen as a time of mischief for young people, with common pranks including toilet […]

On this day in 1735, 2nd president and founding father John Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. He served not only as president and founding father, but a lawyer, delegate to the Continental Congresses, diplomat, and vice president. Did you know? Though Adams opposed British taxation on the colonies, he legally represented the British soldiers […]

Jack o’ lanterns as we know them today have American origins. Pumpkins are native to the Americas (first grown in Central America) so the first jack o’ lanterns carved in Europe was made with turnips or other similar root vegetables. 🥔🍠🥔 Plentiful in America, pumpkins were a valuable source of food for early colonists in […]

On October 31, 1994, Death Valley National Park was established in both California and Nevada. Death Valley earns its name: a place of extremes, it is the hottest place on Earth (!) and contains the driest and lowest points in North America. The world record highest air temperature (134° F!!!) was recorded at Death Valley’s […]

On November 1, 1938, famed American racehorse Seabiscuit outran Triple Crown winner War Admiral in a “match of the century.” 🐎🐎🐎 Small, scrawny, and uncooperative in training, Seabiscuit was an unlikely champion racehorse. The little underdog served as an inspiration to Americans caught up in the Great Depression and an impending world war. The race […]

On this day in 1865, 29th president Warren Harding was born in Blooming Grove, Ohio. (He and James Polk are the only two presidents to share a birthday.) Harding’s term was marred by scandals as administration officials used their positions for personal gain. As president and politician, he did not take strong positions but did […]

On this day in 1795, 11th president James Polk was born in Pineville, North Carolina. The last of the Jacksonians, his administration was marked by “Manifest Destiny” expansionist policies and the Mexican-American War. Under Polk, much of the current continental United States was attained, setting the stage for increased tension over the expansion of slavery […]

On November 2, 1889, North Dakota entered the Union as our 39th state. A beautiful and largely rural state, North Dakota contains both the most wildlife refuges and the largest grassland in the United States. Did you know? North Dakota is home to the Enchanted Highway, a 32-mile passage of highway dotted by some of […]

On this day in 1842, Abraham Lincoln (33) married Mary Todd (23) at her sister’s home in Springfield, Illinois. They remained married for 22 years until Lincoln’s death. Aside from her husband’s death, Mary endured the tragedy of losing three of her four sons within her lifetime. Did you know? Lincoln had humble origins, but […]