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 […]

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 […]

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 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 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 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 […]

On this day in 1913, the Great Lakes Storm of 1913 began. Over the course of 4 days, the blizzard killed over 250 people and sunk 19 ships. Bystanders reported whiteout snow conditions and hurricane-force winds as the storm tore through the Great Lakes region. 🌨❄️💨 Waves swelled up to 35 feet. 🌊🌊🌊 The blizzard […]

Today is Election Day ! 🗳🗳🗳 Did you know? Election Day always falls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. Why this day? For one, farming schedules once dictated much of American life - most Americans had to travel to their local polls and spring through early fall was busy with planting […]

On November 10, 1978, Badlands National Park was established in South Dakota. The Badlands (so-called for its uninhabitability) is a swath of striking geological formations including pinnacles, buttes, and gorges mixed with prairie land. Did you know? The park is a prime location for fossils and has more Eocene and Oligocene mammal fossils than any […]

On this day in 1775, the U.S. Marine Corps was created as the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution to form two battalions of Continental Marines to augment naval operations. The Marines made their first amphibious raid a few months later, successfully seizing British gunpowder and munitions at Fort Nassau in the Bahamas. Did you […]

Each year, Veterans Day honors the bravery and sacrifice of American veterans, both past and present. Did you know? For many years, Veterans Day was Armistice Day. Although World War I officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, fighting ceased much earlier with an armistice on November 11, 1918. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed […]

On this day in 1620, 41 colonists signed the Mayflower Compact off the coast of present-day Cape Cod, Massachusetts. A religiously divided group of Separatist Pilgrims and pro-Church of England colonists, the settlers needed some type of binding governance to survive together in a new land. The Mayflower Compact filled this need, organizing the colonists […]

                  Letita Tyler, c. 1842 On November 12, 1790, First Lady Letitia Tyler was born in Cedar Grove, New Kent County, Virginia. An invalid, she was a quiet First Lady, only making one appearance at a White House social function for the wedding of her daughter Elizabeth. […]

On this day in 1732, founding father John Dickinson was born in Talbot County, Maryland. With Thomas Jefferson, he co-wrote the Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of Taking Up Arms. He also served as governor of Pennsylvania and an attendee of both the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention. Did you know? Though he played […]

On November 14, 1896, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower was born in Boone, Iowa. Despite the demands of being a military wife, and then, the wife of a prominent figure, she always had a cheerful, outgoing demeanor that endeared her to the public. She publicly shunned political involvement, but her actions often spoke louder than words. […]

On this day in 1777, the Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress. The Articles served as a precursor to the Constitution, which was adopted 11 years later. Did you know? Though it united the 13 colonies under one government, the Articles made for a weak national government. They could not enforce federal […]

On this day in 1801, the first issue of the New York Post was published. The newspaper was founded by Alexander Hamilton, and, like its founder, supported Federalist policies on a central bank and foreign policy. Did you know? Hamilton wrote attack pieces on Thomas Jefferson in the Post using the pseudonym, "Lucius Crassus," after […]

On November 16, 1907, Oklahoma entered the Union as our 46th state. Located in Tornado Alley, it is one of the most tornado prone regions of the country. Did you know? Oklahoma is distinguished by a large Native American population. There are over 40 distinct Native languages spoken there and roughly half of the state […]

On this day in 1883, American and Canadian railroads instituted standard time zones (Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific). Prior to this standardization, each town set its own time by when the sun appeared highest in the sky. This resulted in a wide variety of times from place to place. With a rise in train travel, […]

On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address as part of a dedication ceremony for the national cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. 🇺🇸🪦🇺🇸🪦🇺🇸 Despite his remark that “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here” his brief speech went down in history as one of his most famous. The […]

On this day in 1831, 20th president James A. Garfield was born in Orange, Ohio. Though he served in the House of Representatives for nearly two decades, his presidency was brief, cut short by assassination after 200 days. Did you know? Garfield wore many hats throughout his life, in turn serving as a canal boatman, […]

On November 21, 1789, North Carolina ratified the Constitution, becoming our 12th state. The state offers a variety of landscapes, encompassing sub ranges of the Appalachian Mountains, swampland, and Atlantic coastline. Did you know? The first successful airplane flight took place in North Carolina at the windy dunes of Kitty Hawk. There, the Wright Brothers […]

On this day in 1877, Thomas Edison announced the invention of the phonograph. The phonograph ushered in a new era in which recordings could be made, saved, and played back. Edison came across the mechanism while looking for a way to record telephone conversations. Did you know? The first words recorded were the lyrics to […]

On November 22, 1744, First Lady Abigail Adams was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts. She may be best remembered for her remark to her husband, founding father John Adams, to “remember the ladies” while making laws for the emerging United States. Abigail was keenly interested in the development of the new country, and the 1000+ letters […]

On this day in 1804, 14th president Franklin Pierce was born in Hillsboro, New Hampshire. During his administration, Pierce encouraged and supported the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed for the expansion of slavery throughout the territories. The act, famously condemned by future president Abraham Lincoln, invoked outrage and actual violence in Kansas, only […]

Happy Thanksgiving from JMC! Thanksgiving, one of our country's oldest holidays, has roots in both the Native American and European traditions. The Wampanoags and other Native American tribes traditionally held ceremonies of thanksgiving for successful harvests and instances of good fortune. Long before coming to North America, Europeans too gave thanks for good harvests with […]

On this day in 1784, 12th president Zachary Taylor was born in Orange County, Virginia. A war hero and general in the Mexican American War, Taylor’s presidential term lasted less than two years. During that short time, he strove to keep the nation together as friction grew over slavery’s expansion into the West. Did you […]

Today is Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year! Did you know? It’s believed that the term “Black Friday” was first used in reference to the day after Thanksgiving by Philadelphia police officers in the 1950s to describe the mayhem of tourists visiting the city each year to shop and attend […]

On this day in 1924, the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in New York City. Famous for its marching bands, floats, musical performances, and (of course) huge balloons, the parade began as a way to showcase Macy’s growing success. With a focus on Christmas (not Thanksgiving), the parade helped advertise the popular department […]

On November 28, 1925, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee began broadcasting. The longest running radio program in U.S. history, the weekly country music concert began as the one-hour “Barn Dance” broadcast. Since then, the Opry has become famous for showcasing some of the biggest names in country music, including Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, […]

On this day in 1835, American author Mark Twain (né Samuel Clemens) was born in Florida, Missouri. Popular for his colorful and humorous style, Twain nonetheless tackled serious issues in American society, such as slavery and race, morality, and human nature. His most famous book may be The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which portrays slavery […]

On this day in 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to surrender her seat on a public bus to a white man, a breach of city segregation laws. The incident resulted in a year-long boycott of the Montgomery, Alabama bus system and increased nationwide awareness of racial discrimination. Nearly a year later, the boycott […]

Reflecting Americans’ love for holiday decorating, today is National Christmas Lights Day! Did you know? The small strands of bulbs commonly called “Christmas lights” were first invented by Thomas Edison in the 1880s – he decorated outside his Menlo Park Laboratory with the little lights for the holiday season. Two years later, Edison’s friend Edward […]

On December 2, 1763, the first and oldest synagogue in the United States, the Touro Synagogue, was dedicated in Newport, Rhode Island. The congregation was famously addressed by President George Washington in a 1790 letter affirming religious liberty in the new nation: “All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now […]

On December 3, 1818, Illinois was admitted to the Union as our 21st state. The most populated state in the Midwest, Illinois boasts the famous city of Chicago, as well as flat, fertile farmland. Did you know? Illinois proudly sports the nickname, “Land of Lincoln” because the 16th president called the state home for over […]