Week of Events
On this day in 1897, American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas
On this day in 1897, American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas. She’s credited with many records and notable accomplishments, including being the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She was also the first woman to make a transatlantic flight, though she didn’t see it as a major […]
On this day – Heatwave brings record high temperatures
Sweating today? ☀️🔥☀️🔥 Americans in 1936 could relate. In July 1936, the United States experienced a devastating heatwave with highs that went into the 120s(!). It was the hottest recorded month in U.S. history and 25% of U.S. daily heat records were set that summer. Middle America was hit especially hard, already suffering from the […]
On this day – 1st Lady Anna Harrison was born
On July 25, 1775, First Lady Anna Harrison was born in Morristown, New Jersey. She spent only one month as First Lady, as her husband, William Henry Harrison, died shortly after taking office. She did not attend the inauguration and never even entered the White House. Though she grew up in the East, even attending […]
On this Day in 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed executive order 9981, which desegregated the U.S. military
General Colin Powell, speaking on the 50th anniversary of the executive order, remarked on the measure: “The military was the only institution in all of America—because of Harry Truman—where a young Black kid, now 21 years old, could dream the dream he dared not think about at age 11. It was the one place where […]
On this day – New York becomes our 11th State
On July 26, 1788, New York ratified the Constitution, making it our 11th state. It contains the nation’s most populous city (New York City) which once served as our nation’s capital (Washington was sworn in there in 1789). It has also produced the most vice presidents. Did you know? Buffalo wings, beloved both nationally and […]
On this day in 1866, Lavinia Ream became the first female artist to receive a commission from the U.S. government
On this day in 1866, Lavinia (“Vinnie”) Ream became the first female artist to receive a commission from the U.S. government. Her project? A full-body statue of the recently deceased Abraham Lincoln. The piece still stands in the Capitol Rotunda today. A child prodigy, Ream was only 18 at the time of the commission, making […]
On this day in 1805, Alexis de Tocqueville was born in Paris France
On this day in 1805, Alexis de Tocqueville was born in Paris, France. So, why are we noting a Frenchman’s birth on an American history page? Tocqueville’s writings, most notably his multivolume Democracy in America, gave insight into American culture and government. 🇺🇸🇫🇷 The commentary was a product of Tocqueville’s travels throughout America in the […]
National Cheesecake Day!
Happy National Cheesecake Day! Cheesecake dates back to the ancient Greeks, who made a type of cheesecake with fresh cheese and honey. 🧀🍮🍯 Though this beloved dessert didn’t originate in the United States, its composition was revolutionized by the American invention of cream cheese in 1872, which was then used for cheesecake in the 1930s. […]