This evening marks the first night of Hanukkah for Jewish communities around the world. Did you know? In comparison to major Jewish holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Hanukkah is actually a fairly minor religious festival. In the 19th century, however, both Hanukkah and Christmas saw a rise in popularity in the United States. […]
On this day in 1783, George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army following the official end of the Revolution. The moment was a testament to Washington’s hopes for a new self-governing republic. During the course of the war, Congress had given Washington such powers that, were he a lesser man, could have easily […]
Did you know? Although the holiday is believed to date back to 336 A.D., Christmas did not catch on across the United States until the latter half of the 1700s. During colonial times, celebrations (or lack thereof) greatly depended on the predominant sect of each region. In Puritan New England, Christmas celebrations were often banned […]
On this day in 1856, 28th president Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton, Virginia. During Wilson’s administration, he was responsible for the United States abstention from (and subsequent entry into) World War I, as well as the implementation of several progressive policies. Wilson was also responsible for founding the League of Nations. Though the United […]
On this day in 1808, 17th president Andrew Johnson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. The successor to Lincoln, Johnson had huge shoes to fill, wrestling with Reconstruction in a nation still heavily divided. Johnson was at odds with his “Radical Republican” Congress, who condemned his policies as too lenient to the South. This tension […]
On this day in 1907, the first New Year’s Eve “ball drop” in Times Square took place in New York City. The first ball was tiny but heavy – only 5 feet in diameter, but 700 pounds, it was carefully lowered down a flagpole by pulley. Unlike the modern ball, which is famously covered in […]
In colonial America, it was customary to exchange small gifts on New Year’s Day and visit with friends and neighbors. One common (and fragrant!) gift was an orange with cloves stuck into it, often forming designs. 🍊🍊🍊 In the American South, people traditionally ate black-eyed peas for New Year. The peas were thought to resemble […]
On this day in 1870, construction began on the famed Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. The bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its opening and provided a much-needed thruway for New Yorkers commuting from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Did you know? Compartments in the bridge were used as […]
One of the most famous (and rare) books of American birds is John J. Audubon’s Birds of America. Printed as a subscription from 1827 to 1838, the book contains over 400 watercolor illustrations of North American birds that are still studied and admired today. Did you know? Audubon was likely the first person in North […]
On this day in 1800, 13th president Millard Fillmore was born in Cayuga County, New York. His presidency was defined by the passage of the Compromise of 1850, which temporarily staved off disputes between pro-and anti-slavery factions. Though the Compromise abolished slavery in Washington D.C. and created a free state in California, it also included […]
On this day in 1790, George Washington delivered the first State of the Union Address to Congress at Federal Hall in New York City. Among other things, Washington presented the young nation’s current affairs in foreign policy, the economy, immigration, and national defense. Informed by a requirement in Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution, […]
On this day in 1913, 37th president Richard Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California. His presidency, while marked by an end to the draft and American fighting in Vietnam as well as improved relations with China and the Soviet Union, was overshadowed by the Watergate Scandal and ensuing impeachment trial. Nixon resigned before he […]
On this day in 1755 or 1757, founding father Alexander Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis in the British West Indies. He was fundamental in securing the ratification of the Constitution and wrote the majority of the 85 Federalist Papers. In the early days of the new U.S. government, Hamilton founded the Treasury […]
On this day in 1741, Patriot hero turned traitor Benedict Arnold was born in Norwich, Connecticut. During the early years of the American Revolution, he was hailed as a brilliant tactician for his actions to fend off the British invasion of Canada. After being passed over several times for promotion and clashing with senior officers, […]
On this day in 1929, minister and activist leader Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia. A figurehead of the American civil rights movement, he was a proponent of civil disobedience and non-violent protest. Persevering despite death threats, abuse, and arrest, he rose to the national stage, directing the 1963 March on Washington […]
On this day in 1786, Virginia enacted the Statute for Religious Freedom. The statute disestablished the Church of England as Virginia’s official state-supported religion and implemented freedom of worship. 🙏 ✝️ 🙏 ☪️ 🙏 ✡️ 🙏 Authored by Thomas Jefferson, the statute was an important precursor to the protection of religious liberty and separation of […]
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Did you know? It took over 15 years for Martin Luther King Jr. Day to come into being. In the year after King’s death, Congressman John Conyers Jr. introduced legislation to create the federal holiday. Three years later, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference also presented Congress with a petition […]
On this day in 1809, American suspense and horror writer Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Poe’s short stories and poems, including such classics as “The Raven”, “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado”, are still widely read and admired for their macabre themes and mysterious story-telling. Did you know? Poe was […]
It’s National Hot Sauce Day! 🌶🌶🌶 Did you know that hot sauce has deep American roots? Chilis were domesticated in present-day Mexico around 5000 B.C. The Aztecs and Mayans combined chili peppers with water to make an early hot sauce. With increased trade and colonialism in the 1500s, chilis soon spread across the world. Though […]
On this day in 1737, founding father, successful merchant, and first signer of the Declaration of Independence John Hancock was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. Before the Revolution, Hancock was one of the wealthiest men in New England and used his money and influence to forward the movement for American independence. He’s perhaps best known for […]
Happy National Peanut Butter Day! 🥜 🥜 🥜 This uniquely American treat was first patented in the late 1800s, as Canadian Marcellus Gilmore Edson and American John Harvey Kellogg experimented with creating pastes out of roasted and raw peanuts. Kellogg’s easily digested paste was used as a healthy food for sanitarium patients. As a result […]
On this day in 1892, Bessie Coleman, the first African-American and Native American woman pilot was born in Atlanta, Texas. Coleman gave speeches, and lessons, and toured across America and Europe, encouraging other women to pursue flight and dazzling crowds with her daring air tricks. 🛩 🛩 🛩 She also publicly stood up against segregation, […]
On this day in 1843, 25th president William McKinley was born in Niles, Ohio. His presidency was notable for an increase in protective tariffs and imperialist policies that led to the annexation of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Tragically, McKinley was the third president assassinated – an anarchist shot him at the Pan-American Exposition […]
On this day in 1882, 32nd president Franklin D. Roosevelt was born in Hyde Park, New York. His presidency was marked by several momentous historical events, including the Great Depression and the United States’ entry into World War II. Roosevelt also was a prominent progressive and under his guidance, new government programs such as the […]
On this day in 1752, founding father Gouverneur Morris was born in Morrisania, New York (present-day New York City). Though less famous than other founders, Morris was considered the “Penman of the Constitution,” and is credited with wording the famous preamble, “We the People of the United States of America…” Aside from his key role […]
Today, the groundhog saw his shadow – six more weeks of winter! 🌨🌨🌨 Groundhog Day was first officially celebrated on this day in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club still gather in Gobbler’s Knob to lift Phil high in the air and oversee the proceedings in Pennsylvania Dutch. So, where did […]
On this day in 1870, the 15th Amendment was ratified, giving all American men the right to vote, regardless of race or previous state of servitude. Significantly, this meant that emancipated slaves and other African Americans had all the rights and privileges awarded by the Constitution to every U.S. citizen. The immediate effects of the […]
On this day in 1756, infamous American politician Aaron Burr was born in Newark, New Jersey. Though he may be best-known for his duel with Alexander Hamilton (which proved fatal […]
On this day in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was founded by William D. Boyce in Washington, D.C. Boyce was inspired by the Boy Scouts movement in England after reportedly meeting a scout while lost in the streets of London. After guiding Boyce to his destination, the Boy Scout refused compensation for his good […]
On this day in 1773, 9th president William Henry Harrison was born in Berkeley, Virginia. He served the shortest term of any president – a mere month – before expiring from pneumonia. Though he didn’t make much impact as president, Harrison was well-known as a general in the War of 1812 and in battles with […]
On this day in 1809, 16th president Abraham Lincoln was born near Hodgenville, Kentucky. We particularly honor Lincoln for his leadership in steering the country through a civil war intact and for taking the necessary steps to end slavery once and for all. Did you know? Outside of his political prowess, Lincoln was an inventor. […]
Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️❤️❤️ Though this holiday has origins in the Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia and as a Christian feast day, it wasn’t until the 17th and 18th centuries that it became popular to mark the day by exchanging notes and tokens of affection with friends and lovers. 💋💝🥂💐 Did you know? Handmade cards […]
On this day in 1820, American activist Susan B. Anthony was born in Adams, Massachusetts. An icon of the women’s suffrage movement, Anthony founded the National American Woman Suffrage Association with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and helped pave the way for the Nineteenth Amendment. Aside from her activism for women’s rights, Anthony was also a vocal […]
On this day in 1885, Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was first published in the United States. The book, still widely-read for its portrayal of race relations, focuses on the relationship between a young boy, Huckleberry Finn, and an escaped slave, Jim. Though a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, it far surpassed […]
Happy Presidents Day! 🏛🏛🏛 Presidents Day, as we now call it, began as an officially recognized celebration of George Washington’s birthday in 1885. During the 1960s, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which pushed several federal holiday observances to Mondays in order to allow for three-day weekends. This effectively moved Washington’s Birthday from its […]
On this day in 1732, founding father and our 1st president George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Aside from serving two terms as our first president, Washington was Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Uniquely, he was in a position of steering the emerging nation to success not […]
On this day in 1846, William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody was born near LeClaire, Iowa. Cody came to symbolize “Wild West” culture in America with his famous Wild West Show, featuring figures like Annie Oakley and Sitting Bull. He was not just well-known in the U.S., but arguably one of the most famous Americans in […]
On this day in 1807, American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine. He is one of the best-known poets of the nineteenth century, authoring such prominent and lasting works as “Paul Revere’s Ride”, “The Courtship of Miles Standish”, The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline. His works appealed to the masses. Did you […]
On this day in 1872, Yellowstone National Park was established as President Ulysses S. Grant signed an act protecting over 2 million acres of wilderness as “a public park or […]
On this day in 1931, the United States officially adopted “The Star-Spangled Banner” as its national anthem. The song was penned in 1814, but gained greater meaning throughout the 19th century, becoming particularly impactful during and after the Civil War. Why? During the upheaval of the war, the American flag had become an even more […]
On this day in 1770, the Boston Massacre occurred on King Street in Boston, Massachusetts as colonists rioted and British troops panicked, opening fire and killing 5 men. The incident fueled increasing anti-British sentiment as the colonies approached the Revolution. Did you know? Though labeled a “massacre”, the British troops had been provoked by the […]
On this day in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for his invention of the telephone. ☎️ ☎️ ☎️ A native of Scotland, Bell developed his telephone while teaching at a school for the deaf in Boston, Massachusetts. His prototype featured vibrations that electronically transferred sound from one instrument to another. A few days […]
On this day in 1864, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Ulysses S. Grant as Lieutenant General of the Union Army. The position gave Grant command of all U.S. armies and made him answerable only to the President himself. The appointment followed a string of unsuccessful general-in-chiefs, including George McClellan, who shared mutual feelings of dislike with […]
On this day in 1913, American abolitionist and leading conductor in the Underground Railroad Harriet Tubman died in Auburn, New York. An escaped slave herself, Tubman took great personal risks to lead at least 70 slaves out of the South to freedom – she never lost a passenger. Did you know? Aside from her work […]
On this day in 1912, the Girl Scouts of America was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia. Inspired by the Girl Guides of Great Britain, Low decided to begin an organization for American girls that emphasized outdoor activities, exercise, independence, and service to others. 🌲⛺️ 🏸⛹️♀️ Soon troops spread across the country. Some […]
On this day in 1767, 7th president Andrew Jackson was born near Lancaster, South Carolina. During his time in politics, the Democratic Party came into being. His administration was set apart by his prominent use of executive power, the Indian Removal Act and subsequent Trail of Tears, and political war over the renewal of the […]
On this day in 1751, 4th president and founding father James Madison was born in Port Conway, Virginia. Madison was instrumental in the creation of the Constitution, earning the title “father of the Constitution.” He publicly defended the new form of government, writing some of the most-studied Federalist Papers, and was responsible for compiling the […]
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀🍺🍀🍺🍀🍺 Irish-Americans (and not so Irish Americans) across the country celebrate Irish heritage today with parades, corned beef and cabbage, and festive green attire. The holiday, traditionally a celebration of Ireland’s patron saint, has been marked in North America for hundreds of years. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place […]
On this day in 1837, 22nd (and 24th) president Grover Cleveland was born in Caldwell, New Jersey. Cleveland is the only president to have served for two separate terms. His […]
On March 20, 1612, Puritan poet Anne Bradstreet was born in Northampton, England. A leading figure in early American poetry, Bradstreet was the first published poet from the American colonies. Her poetry was lauded in both America and England, and King George III himself was said to keep a volume in his library. 👑 📖 […]
On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech in Richmond, Virginia while arguing for the deployment of Virginia troops in the American Revolution. Henry’s passionate speech made a strong impression on the Second Virginia Convention, who sat in stunned silence for several minutes afterwards. It had […]
On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire took place in New York City, killing 146 workers, mostly teenage girls. The tragedy is infamous in part for its preventability – safety features had been neglected to save money and locked doors prevented escape. Trapped with nowhere to go, several jumped from the 8th floor. […]
On March 26, 1874, American poet Robert Frost was born in San Francisco, California. His popular poetry is best known for its focus on nature and rural New England life. 🌲🏡🌳 Still read by schoolchildren today, “The Road Not Taken”, “Mending Wall”, and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” are some of his best […]
On March 29, 1874, First Lady Lou Hoover was born in Waterloo, Iowa. The wife of 31st president, Herbert Hoover, Lou served as first lady during the first years of the Great Depression. Did you know? A geology major while at university, Lou had a love of nature and the outdoors and was a strong […]
Today marks the birthday of the 10th president John Tyler. Did you know that Tyler was the first vice-president to take office after the death of a sitting president? He became president after the death of William Henry Harrison, who held the shortest term in U.S. history. He is also known as the only […]
On March 31, 1918, Daylight Saving Time went into effect for the first time in the United States. The practice had roots in World War I, when clocks were changed by an hour to conserve on fuel. After the war however, the practice proved so unpopular with Americans that it was repealed in 1919. Daylight […]
On this day in 1776, Abigail Adams wrote her husband John her now-famous letter urging him to "remember the ladies." "I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would […]
On April 3, 1860, the first rider for the Pony Express departed St. Joseph, Missouri. Each of the famed riders rode 75-100 miles straight, handing off letters to another waiting horseman. Letters reached Sacramento, California in a speedy 10 days. Though the Express lasted less than two years, it remains famous as a fixture of […]
On April 5, 1792, the presidential veto was used for the first time by President George Washington. What was he vetoing? A bill with a new apportionment formula that would give some states more representatives than proportionate to their populations. Congress did not override a presidential veto until 1845 (!) Did you know? Veto is […]
On this day in 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was established to organize young, unemployed American men to work on America’s parks and forests. In addition to providing jobs for the unemployed, the program led to a greater appreciation and awareness of America’s wilderness. Did you know that over the course of […]
It’s National Beer Day! 🍺🍺🍺 So, why today? On April 7, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt partially lifted Prohibition regulations, relegalizing 3.2% beer. It would be another 8 months before Prohibition would be completely lifted. Did you know? Unsurprisingly, some of the largest breweries in America sprung up in heavily German areas, such as Pennsylvania […]
On April 8, 1918, First Lady Betty Ford was born in Chicago, Illinois. During her time as First Lady, Ford brought special attention to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as breast cancer awareness. Having faced addiction and breast cancer herself, Ford made the personal public to reduce stigma around these issues. Did you know? […]
On this day in 1865, the Civil War unofficially ended as General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox Court House, Virginia. Did you know?: Lee arrived at the meeting in his full dress uniform, while future president Grant wore his muddy field uniform for the occasion. Terms of […]
On April 12, 1861, the Civil War began as Confederate troops under the command of General Pierre Beauregard opened fire on Fort Sumter off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. South Carolina had declared secession in December 1860 after the election of Abraham Lincoln. Did you know? Amazingly, nobody was killed in the Battle of […]
On April 13, 1870, the Metropolitan Museum of Art was incorporated in New York City. The museum acquired its first object later that year, a Roman sarcophagus that dates to the 200s A.D. By the 1900s, the museum was considered one of the top art institutions in the world. Today it consists of over 2 […]
The third president Thomas Jefferson was born on this day in 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. At age 33, he drafted the Declaration of Independence and is remembered as its primary author. Did you know? Jefferson’s proudest accomplishments did not include, as one may expect, serving as president. He requested that his grave be inscribed […]
On this day in 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was tragically shot and mortally wounded in Ford’s Theatre while watching a performance of Our American Cousin. After being evaluated by doctors, he was taken across the street from the theater to William Petersen's boarding house. This painting, Lincoln Borne by Loving Hands, is the only […]
On April 14, 1775, the first abolition society in North America, the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, was established in Philadelphia by Quaker Anthony Benezet. Did you know? Though he held slaves as a young man, Benjamin Franklin became a proponent of abolition in his elder years. In the […]
On this day in 1775, Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott set out from Boston, Massachusetts around 10 pm to warn patriots in Lexington and Concord of the approaching British. 🐎🐎🐎 The ride preceded the very first battles of the Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord, and was famously immortalized by Henry Wadsworth […]
On April 19, 1832 First Lady Lucretia Garfield was born in Garrettsville, Ohio. Her time in the White House was short – her husband President James Garfield was assassinated after six months in office. She was particularly admired for her grace in face of the tragedy. A reserved woman, Garfield enjoyed intellectual pursuits, particularly literature […]
On this day in 1897, the first Boston Marathon took place. Only 15 runners (all men) took part in the race, with John J. McDermott of New York finishing victorious. The number of participants has grown to roughly 30,000 runners in more recent times. Did you know? Women weren’t allowed to enter the marathon […]
On April 20, 1841, one of the earliest detective stories, Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” was published. It is widely held as one of the most important modern detective stories in the English-speaking world, preceding the works of both Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. 🔎 🔦 🗝 🕰 Paving the […]
On this day in 1791, 15th president James Buchanan was born. The last president born in the 18th century, he served just one term from 1857 to 1861, as the immediate predecessor to Abraham Lincoln. Though Buchanan aimed to compromise in an increasingly divided nation, he failed to prevent the conflict of […]
On this day in 1800, the Library of Congress was established in Washington, D.C. It is our nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and the largest library in the world! Since 1801, the collection has increased from its initial 740 volumes “necessary for the use of Congress” to over 170 million items. The Library […]
On April 26, 1785 famed ornithologist John James Audubon was born in Les Caves, Saint-Dominique (modern-day Haiti). Audubon documented 700+ birds of America in his book, Birds of America. His faithful paintings of several species are still enjoyed today. 🐦🦆🦉🦅 Did you know? Audubon, though most associated with American wildlife, was not American himself. He […]
On this day in 1822, 18th president Ulysses S. Grant was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio. Although he served a full two terms as president, he is often best remembered for his crucial role in winning the Civil War. Did you know? President and Mrs. Grant almost attended Ford’s Theatre with Lincoln on […]
On this day in 1758, 5th president James Monroe was born in Monroe Hall, Virginia. Though he’s often less remembered than fellow founding fathers Madison, Jefferson, or Washington, Monroe was a popular and accomplished president. In particular, he is distinguished for running for reelection unopposed (the only other president to do so was […]
On April 28, 1788, 7th state Maryland was ratified into the United States. Did you know? The Maryland State House is the oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use. It also served as the national Capitol when Annapolis was our nation’s capitol – Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the army here. What’s in […]
On this day in 1789, George Washington became our first U.S. president as he was administered the oath of office at Federal Hall in New York City. Washington appeared on the balcony of Federal Hall in a plain brown suit, solemnly recited the oath of office over the Bible, and, in a mark […]
On April 30, 1812, Louisiana was admitted to the United States as our 18th state. Did you know? Perhaps unsurprisingly, Louisiana is the birthplace of jazz. The port city of New Orleans was the perfect melting pot for jazz’s development, as the genre borrows elements of both African and European musical traditions. Jazz developed in […]
On May 1, 1931, the Empire State Building was dedicated in New York City. The 1,250 foot building stood as the tallest in the world until the 1970s with the construction of the World Trade Center tower. 🏙🏙🏙 Did you know? The very upper tower of the building was originally intended as a docking station […]
On this day in 1864, American journalist Nellie Bly was born in Cochran’s Mills, Pennsylvania. Bly (born Elizabeth Cochran) is famous for her daring approach to investigative journalism, and, in particular, for exposing the poor working and living conditions in urban areas. In 1887, Bly went undercover, feigning insanity in order to be admitted […]
On May 5, 1809, Mary Kies became the first woman to receive a U.S. patent for her new method of weaving straw hats using silk and thread. 👒👒👒 Did you know? First Lady Dolley Madison was so impressed with Kies’ innovation that she wrote to her with congratulations for boosting the female-dominated straw hat-making industry. […]
Today marks the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby! The Derby dates to 1875 and of the three races in the Triple Crown, it is the first and the most popular, attracting millions of viewers every year. 🐎 🐎 🐎 Over the years, the race has collected a variety of traditions, including mint juleps, enormous […]
On this day in 1884, 33rd president Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri. Truman became president under trying circumstances. Upon the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, the former vice-president faced difficult choices relating to the first use of the atomic bomb, the subsequent end of World War II, and the […]
Happy Mother’s Day! 🥰👩👧👦💐 Did you know? Abigail Adams is one of only two women that have served as both First Lady and mother of a president. She was survived by both of her presidents and left a lasting impact on them with her goodness and intelligent support. Writing in his diary upon her death, […]
On May 9, 1800, American abolitionist John Brown was born in Torrington, Connecticut. He’s best remembered for his forceful means of fighting slavery, in particular the raid he led on Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia in 1859. The raid was meant to incite a nationwide slave rebellion and heightened already rising tensions over slavery between North […]
On this day in 1869, the first transcontinental railroad in the United States was completed in Promontory Point, Utah, where a golden spike was driven to connect the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railways. This major step in infrastructure helped to connect the country and enabled faster and cheaper travel. 🚂🚃🚃 A ceremony, centered […]
On May 11, 1858, Minnesota was admitted into the United States as our 32nd state. Did you know? Minnesota was the first Union state to volunteer troops to fight in the Civil War. Roughly half of Minnesota’s eligible men fought in the war. Minnesota’s nickname, “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” is no exaggeration. In actuality, the […]
On this day in 1607, the first permanent English settlement in America – Jamestown, Virginia – was established under the orders of King James I. Early inhabitants struggled in Jamestown, facing disease, famine, and poor relations with Native Americans. Fatality rates were high – by January 1608, only 38 of the original 104 colonists remained. […]
On May 14, 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition began as William Clark departed from Camp Dubois in Illinois to join Meriwether Lewis in St. Charles, Missouri. Over the course of the next two and a half years, the men and their expedition would explore the newly obtained Louisiana Purchase, traveling 8,000+ miles to and […]
On May 15, 1860, First Lady Ellen Wilson was born in Savannah, Georgia. First Lady to Woodrow Wilson, she took a particular interest in art and children’s issues. Before marrying, she attended the prestigious Art Students League. 🎨 🖌 Did you know? Wilson directed the addition of the famous Rose Garden to the White House […]
On May 17, 1792, the New York Stock Exchange was established as businessmen met under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street and signed a trading agreement to give preference to each other while buying and selling. 💸💸💸 Trading often took place outside (weather-permitting) as well as in nearby taverns and coffeehouses. 🌳☕️🌳 Did you know? […]
On this day in 1954, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was decided with the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruling that race-based segregation in public schools was unlawful and denied black children equal educational opportunities. The landmark case began as five separate cases drawn from Kansas, South Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, and D.C. At the […]
On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington State, killing 57 people and causing $3 million in damages. It was the deadliest and most destructive volcano eruption in U.S. history, destroying 230 square miles of forest area within minutes. Did you know? Fluctuating between periods of calm and activity, Mount St. Helens erupted […]
On this day in 1780, residents of New England and New Jersey experienced what would later be called “New England’s Dark Day” or “Black Friday.” Starting roughly mid-morning, mysterious darkness fell over the sky from Maine south to New Jersey. Animals behaved as if it were nighttime and candles were required to see during the […]
On May 20, 1768, First Lady Dolley Madison was born in Guilford County, North Carolina. The wife of founding father James Madison, Dolley balanced his taciturn nature with her sociability, friendliness, and fun-loving tendencies. Their marriage is remembered as a particularly happy one despite their difference in natures and wide age gap of 17 years. […]
On this day in 1932, American aviator Amelia Earhart departed on her solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the first woman (and second person, after Charles Lindbergh) to do so. Taking off from Canada at 7 pm, she arrived in Ireland roughly 15 hours later. Upon her return to the United States, she was […]
On May 22, 1902, Crater Lake National Park was established in Oregon. Aside from being jaw-droppingly beautiful, the lake is the deepest in the United States, reaching depths of 1,943 (the ninth deepest in the world). Did you know? Crater Lake was formed by the eruption and collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama 7,700 years […]
May 23 is World Wrestling Day! Several U.S. presidents didn’t just wrestle, but were good at it, including Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Zachary Taylor. Abraham Lincoln was renowned in his region for his wrestling skills, only losing one match in a dozen years. He is the only president to be conducted into the […]
On this day in 1844, telegraph inventor Samuel Morse sent the first telegraph message from the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. to Baltimore, MD. 🏛️➡️➡️➡️➡️🏘️ Though now obsolete, the telegraph made a lasting impact on nationwide (and eventually worldwide) communications and was indispensable for war correspondence during the Civil War. Did you […]
On May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention began in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Delegates from nearly every state, including George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin, met to discuss the future of the United States and a revision of the Articles of Confederation. Over the next few months, the delegates would develop and vote on the U.S. […]
Around this time in 1888, American athlete Jim Thorpe was born near Prague, Oklahoma, a member of the Sac and Fox Nation. Competing in the 1912 Olympics, he was the first Native American to win a gold medal for the United States. Thorpe was a multi-talented athlete - among other sports he was skilled in […]
On this day in 1937, Americans celebrated the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. The iconic structure spans nearly two miles and was the longest suspension bridge in the world up until 1964. A long time coming, the bridge was originally proposed in the 1870s with construction not occurring […]
On May 28, 1754, the first engagement of the French and Indian War occurred as a Virginia militia led by 22-year-old George Washington launched a surprise attack on a party of French in southwestern Pennsylvania. 🇬🇧🇫🇷 The skirmish had international implications. Though fighting began in 1754, war wasn’t officially declared between Great Britain and France […]
On this day in 1917, 35th President John F. Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. His presidency was marked by Cold War tensions, the civil rights movement, and developments in the space race. Tragically, Kennedy’s term was cut short by assassination when he was fatally shot while on a presidential visit to Dallas, […]
On May 29, 1790, our 13th state, Rhode Island, was ratified into the United States. Though it was the first colony to renounce allegiance to Great Britain, it was the last of the Thirteen Colonies to ratify the Constitution, and the only state to boycott the Constitutional Convention. Though it is tiny (the smallest state […]
On this day in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C. The structure honors our 16th president and his actions to end slavery and preserve the Union. The 1922 dedication ceremony was attended by such prominent figures as Robert Lincoln (Lincoln’s only surviving son), past president William Howard Taft, and keynote […]
Happy Memorial Day from the JMC! While many of us are enjoying a long weekend, let us remember the purpose of this national holiday – to remember and honor those that have fallen while in service to our country. The holiday has origins in the aftermath of the Civil War – "Decoration Day" was celebrated […]
On May 31, 1819, American poet journalist, and essayist Walt Whitman was born in West Hills, New York. Whitman is considered one of our nation’s most important poets, producing enduring works on such topics as love, democracy, nature, and life and death. His best-known volumes are Leaves of Grass and Drum Taps, which drew heavily […]
On this day in 1886, President Grover Cleveland wed Frances Folsom at the White House. Although President Cleveland wasn’t the only president to marry while in office, he remains the only president to be married in the White House. 💕 👫🏛️ 💕 Did you know? The marriage was controversial not only because of a […]
On June 2, 1861, First Lady Helen “Nellie” Taft was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Taft was enthusiastic about music and travel. She had a degree in music from the Cincinnati College of Music and founded the city’s orchestra association. 🎼🎺🎻 Even before her time as First Lady, she had close presidential ties. Taft’s parents were […]
On this day in 1851, Uncle Tom’s Cabin was first published in serial form in The National Era. Despite the novel’s perpetuation of many racial stereotypes, it was absolutely pivotal in revealing the cruelties of slavery to white northerners, many of whom were not directly exposed to them. The book was immensely popular, selling 10,000 […]
On this day in 1755, American patriot and spy Nathan Hale was born in Coventry, Connecticut. He is famous for being executed by the British while on a spy mission during the Revolutionary War, uttering the last words, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” There […]
On June 6, 1933, the first drive-in movie theater, Camden Drive-In, opened in Pennsauken, New Jersey. 🎬🎟🚗 Richard Hollingshead, an auto products manager, came up with the idea after witnessing his mother’s discomfort while sitting in the standard movie theater seat. Striking on the comfort of the roomy car seat, he tested the idea in […]
On this day in 1867, American architect Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin. Wright is considered one of the greatest American architects of all time, famously designing his structures with an eye toward harmony with the surrounding environment: “No house should ever be on any hill or on anything. It […]
On June 8, 1847, First Lady Ida McKinley was born in Canton, Ohio. McKinley suffered from many tragedies in her life – aside from her husband’s assassination in 1901, she had previously lost both of her children and suffered from a serious illness that caused debilitating headaches, fainting, and seizures. Before marrying and while healthy, […]
On this day in 1692, the first execution of the Salem Witch Trials took place as Bridget Bishop was hanged in Salem, Massachusetts. She was the first of 19 people (5 men and 14 women) to be executed during this dark chapter of American history. Did you know? Bridget Bishop was not the […]
On June 11, 1741, American patriot and physician Joseph Warren was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts. A significant figure in the early days of the Revolutionary War, Dr. Warren led up several patriot organizations in Boston, and was the person that enlisted Paul Revere for his famous midnight ride. Sadly, Warren would never see the fruits […]
On June 12, 1967, the Supreme Court ruled in Loving v. Virginia that the prohibition of interracial marriage was unconstitutional. The case came to the Court after Mildred Jeter (a black woman) and Richard Loving (a white man) were married in Washington, D.C. and returned to Virginia, where they were charged with violating state […]
Happy Flag Day! Today marks the anniversary of the adoption of the American flag. First celebrated locally in northern states during the Civil War, June 14th wasn’t officially established as Flag Day until President Woodrow Wilson made a proclamation in 1916. Although not an official federal holiday, Flag Day is an official state holiday in […]
On June 15, 1836, Arkansas was admitted into the Union as our 25th state. Did you know? Arkansas is the only state with an operating diamond mine. The three largest diamonds found in the United States are from Arkansas. 💎💎💎 Arkansas’s hot springs have long been a destination for people seeking rest and recovery. In […]
On this day in 1884, the first American roller coaster opened on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. This early roller coaster, called the “switchback railway”, used gravity to its advantage, taking riders downwards from an elevated tower at the exhilarating speed of 6 mph. 🎢 🎢 🎢 The one-minute ride was wildly popular and […]
On June 18, 1812, the War of 1812 began as James Madison signed a declaration of war against Great Britain. The declaration came after British ships attempted to restrict American trade and impressed American sailors into the British Navy. The war was relatively brief, ending in 1815, but had impact as a boost to national […]
On this day in 1865, the final slaves residing in the former Confederacy were informed of their freedom as granted under the Emancipation Proclamation. The day became a holiday for former slaves in Texas (the final state to be informed of the Proclamation) and is now celebrated across the nation to commemorate American emancipation from […]
Father’s Day was not, as one may imagine, founded by a father, but by a loving daughter, Sonora Smart Dodd. While sitting in at a church service for Mother’s Day, Dodd was inspired to start a day for dads. Her own father, William Smart, was a Civil War veteran who single-handedly raised Dodd and her […]
On June 20, 1975, Jaws was released in the United States, ushering in the trend of “summer blockbusters.” The famous movie, focused on the hunt for a killer great white shark off the coast of Massachusetts, grossed $7 million in its first weekend (that’s roughly $35 million today!) At the time, it was the highest-grossing […]
Today marks the first day of summer and is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. ☀️☀️☀️ Did you know? In the United States, several Native American tribes observed (and still observe) the summer solstice with traditions including dance, prayer, and sun salutation. There are several Native American stone arrangements in the […]
On this day in 1611, explorer Henry Hudson, his teenage son, and seven others were abandoned in Hudson Bay by mutineers. Hudson's company had sailed to the Americas in search of a northwestern passage to Asia. The mutiny was triggered by the crew’s terrible experiences over the past year – the expedition had been ill-equipped […]