Today is Easter, the holiest day of the year for Christians, who on this day celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In America, several Easter traditions have roots in the Old World. The Easter bunny was reportedly introduced by Pennsylvania German immigrants in the 1700s who retold the story of an egg-laying rabbit. Easter candy is […]
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 […]
Happy April Fools’ Day! Here are some wacky presidential facts to help celebrate the day: - We may think of George Washington as the formidable, serious father of our country, but he also had a sense of humor. A contemporary recalled a tale of Washington actually rolling on the floor with laughter when a friend […]
Today is International Children’s Book Day! Did you know? Children’s books are a fairly new innovation – prior to the 1700s or so, books for children tended to be strictly educational in nature. And, as printing became more economical, children’s books began booming in the 1800s. Some of the all-time best-selling American children’s books are […]
On April 4, 1887, the first woman mayor was elected in the United States as Susanna M. Salter won the election in Argonia, Kansas. Salter was passionate about the temperance movement and when local men nominated her for mayoral candidacy as a joke, the 27-year-old mother of four staggered them by winning 2/3 of the vote. Scrutinized […]
On this day in 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was established to organize young, unemployed American men to work in 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 […]
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 copies in […]
Today is Easter, the holiest day of the year for Christians, who on this day celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In America, several Easter traditions have roots in the Old World. The Easter bunny was reportedly introduced by Pennsylvania German immigrants in the 1700s who retold the story of an egg-laying rabbit. Easter candy is […]
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 this day in 1925, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, was first published in New York City. The book, widely read by American high schoolers every year, is particularly associated with the Roaring ‘20s and explores materialism, identity, and habits of Jazz Age members of “the Lost Generation.” Did you know? The Great […]
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 Fort […]
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 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 April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean around 2:00 AM on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City. The ship, though praised for its luxury and unsinkability, was unable to withstand the trauma of hitting an iceberg. Of the Titanic’s 2,240 passengers, only 706 survived, with third […]
April 16 is National Librarian Day! 🔖📚📖📚🔖 What better way to celebrate than visiting your local library? Did you know? The precursor to the public library was the membership library - members of this type of private library paid a subscription fee to cover the cost of members-only book access. The first membership library 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, 1721, statesman and founding father Roger Sherman was born in Newton, Massachusetts. A representative from Connecticut, Sherman is the only person to have signed all four of the major Founding era documents: the Articles of Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution. 📜📃📜📃 During the Constitutional Convention, […]
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 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 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 25, 1901, New York became the first state to require automobile license plates. Each driver was tasked with creating his or her plate - most were made from painted wood, leather, or metal. The New York requirement for license plates was a sign of the increasing use of automobiles in America. That said, […]
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 originally […]
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 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 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 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 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 […]