On December 31, 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
On October 16, 1758, American lexicographer Noah Webster was born in West Hartford, Connecticut. Though it was not the first American English language dictionary, Webster’s dictionary, completed in 1828, is […]
On October 19, 1781, the British, led by General Lord Charles Cornwallis, surrendered to George Washington’s army at Yorktown, Virginia, effectually ending the Revolutionary War. The surrender marked an end […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Occurring every year on November 11, Veterans Day honors the bravery and sacrifice of American veterans, past and present. 🇺🇸🪖🇺🇸🪖🇺🇸🪖 Did you know? For many years, the occasion was celebrated […]
Letita Tyler, c. 1842 On November 12, 1790, First Lady Letitia Tyler was born in Cedar Grove, New Kent County, Virginia. […]
On the night of November 12-13, 1833, thousands of meteors formed a meteor storm visible over North America east of the Rockies. The impressive sight lasted for hours, entrancing Americans, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
It’s National Cookie Day! The first cookies in America were made from simple ingredients like sugar and butter. These butter cookies were close relatives of teacakes and shortbread of the […]
On December 6, 1907, the worst mining accident in U.S. history occurred at the Monongah Mine in West Virginia. An explosion in the mines killed 350+ coal miners. With a […]
On December 7, 1787, Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, earning it the title of “The First State.” Did you know? Delaware has no sales tax and […]
On December 10, 1817, Mississippi was admitted to the Union as our 20th state. Did you know? Blues music has a prominent place in Mississippi history – many of the […]
On December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution, making it our second state. The state has hosted many historical events, perhaps most notably the signing of the Declaration of Independence […]
On December 13, 1818, First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln was born in Lexington, Kentucky. The wife of Abraham Lincoln, Mary endured many tragedies in her life. Aside from her husband’s […]
Happy Bill of Rights Day! 📜📜📜 On this day in 1791, the Bill of Rights was ratified, consisting of the first ten amendments in our Constitution. Inspired by such documents […]
On December 20, 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was completed as France officially transferred the Louisiana Territory to the United States. The Louisiana Purchase was one of the largest land transfers […]
On December 22, 1912, First Lady Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson was born in Karnack, Texas. She may be best known for her efforts to beautify American highways with wildflowers and […]
On December 24, 1745, American patriot, founding father, and physician Benjamin Rush was born in Byberry, Pennsylvania. Rush put his medical knowledge to use during the Revolution, treating injured and […]
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, […]
On December 26, 1935, Shenandoah National Park was established in Virginia. Extending along the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Appalachian Range, the park contains 100+ miles of the Appalachian Trail, […]
On December 29, 1845, Texas entered the Union as our 28th state. It is the largest state in the continental U.S. and the second largest state by population in the […]
Happy New Year! 🎊🎉🎊 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 […]
On January 2, 1788, Georgia ratified the Constitution, making it our 4th state. It’s the largest state east of the Mississippi River and is famous for its peaches, pecans, and […]
On January 3, 1879, First Lady Grace Coolidge was born in Burlington, Vermont. A balancing presence to her reserved husband (“Silent Cal”) she was friendly, outgoing, and popular (the Secret […]
On January 7, 1830, German-American artist Albert Bierstadt was born in Solingen, Rhine, Prussia. 🎨🎨🎨 A leading artist in the Hudson River School, Bierstadt focused on beautiful landscapes. His most […]
Happy National Hat Day! 🎩🧢👒 Hats are nothing new, but the United States has produced some unique pieces of headgear throughout its history, including the cowboy hat (inspired by Mexican […]
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! A figurehead of the American civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr. was a proponent of civil disobedience and non-violent protest. Persevering despite death […]
On January 17, 1706, Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Franklin was instrumental in the formation of the new United States – he played key roles at […]
It’s National Popcorn Day! 🍿🍿🍿 Popcorn originated in the Americas and was first cultivated thousands of years ago – some of the earliest kernels were found in Peru and date […]
On January 23, 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in the United States to earn a medical doctorate. Despite sexism, she succeeded not only in completing her coursework, but […]
On January 24, 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill near Coloma, California, triggering the California Gold Rush. As news of the discovery spread, thousands of would-be gold miners poured […]
On January 26, 1837, Michigan was admitted to the Union as our 26th state. The state has the most coastline on the Great Lakes and is bordered by Lakes Superior, […]
On December 31, 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
On October 16, 1758, American lexicographer Noah Webster was born in West Hartford, Connecticut. Though it was not the first American English language dictionary, Webster’s dictionary, completed in 1828, is […]
On October 19, 1781, the British, led by General Lord Charles Cornwallis, surrendered to George Washington’s army at Yorktown, Virginia, effectually ending the Revolutionary War. The surrender marked an end […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Occurring every year on November 11, Veterans Day honors the bravery and sacrifice of American veterans, past and present. 🇺🇸🪖🇺🇸🪖🇺🇸🪖 Did you know? For many years, the occasion was celebrated […]
Letita Tyler, c. 1842 On November 12, 1790, First Lady Letitia Tyler was born in Cedar Grove, New Kent County, Virginia. […]
On the night of November 12-13, 1833, thousands of meteors formed a meteor storm visible over North America east of the Rockies. The impressive sight lasted for hours, entrancing Americans, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
It’s National Cookie Day! The first cookies in America were made from simple ingredients like sugar and butter. These butter cookies were close relatives of teacakes and shortbread of the […]
On December 6, 1907, the worst mining accident in U.S. history occurred at the Monongah Mine in West Virginia. An explosion in the mines killed 350+ coal miners. With a […]
On December 7, 1787, Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, earning it the title of “The First State.” Did you know? Delaware has no sales tax and […]
On December 10, 1817, Mississippi was admitted to the Union as our 20th state. Did you know? Blues music has a prominent place in Mississippi history – many of the […]
On December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution, making it our second state. The state has hosted many historical events, perhaps most notably the signing of the Declaration of Independence […]
On December 13, 1818, First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln was born in Lexington, Kentucky. The wife of Abraham Lincoln, Mary endured many tragedies in her life. Aside from her husband’s […]
Happy Bill of Rights Day! 📜📜📜 On this day in 1791, the Bill of Rights was ratified, consisting of the first ten amendments in our Constitution. Inspired by such documents […]
On December 20, 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was completed as France officially transferred the Louisiana Territory to the United States. The Louisiana Purchase was one of the largest land transfers […]
On December 22, 1912, First Lady Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson was born in Karnack, Texas. She may be best known for her efforts to beautify American highways with wildflowers and […]
On December 24, 1745, American patriot, founding father, and physician Benjamin Rush was born in Byberry, Pennsylvania. Rush put his medical knowledge to use during the Revolution, treating injured and […]
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, […]
On December 26, 1935, Shenandoah National Park was established in Virginia. Extending along the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Appalachian Range, the park contains 100+ miles of the Appalachian Trail, […]
On December 29, 1845, Texas entered the Union as our 28th state. It is the largest state in the continental U.S. and the second largest state by population in the […]
Happy New Year! 🎊🎉🎊 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 […]
On January 2, 1788, Georgia ratified the Constitution, making it our 4th state. It’s the largest state east of the Mississippi River and is famous for its peaches, pecans, and […]
On January 3, 1879, First Lady Grace Coolidge was born in Burlington, Vermont. A balancing presence to her reserved husband (“Silent Cal”) she was friendly, outgoing, and popular (the Secret […]
On January 7, 1830, German-American artist Albert Bierstadt was born in Solingen, Rhine, Prussia. 🎨🎨🎨 A leading artist in the Hudson River School, Bierstadt focused on beautiful landscapes. His most […]
Happy National Hat Day! 🎩🧢👒 Hats are nothing new, but the United States has produced some unique pieces of headgear throughout its history, including the cowboy hat (inspired by Mexican […]
On January 17, 1706, Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Franklin was instrumental in the formation of the new United States – he played key roles at […]
It’s National Popcorn Day! 🍿🍿🍿 Popcorn originated in the Americas and was first cultivated thousands of years ago – some of the earliest kernels were found in Peru and date […]
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! A figurehead of the American civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr. was a proponent of civil disobedience and non-violent protest. Persevering despite death […]
On January 23, 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in the United States to earn a medical doctorate. Despite sexism, she succeeded not only in completing her coursework, but […]
On January 24, 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill near Coloma, California, triggering the California Gold Rush. As news of the discovery spread, thousands of would-be gold miners poured […]
On January 26, 1837, Michigan was admitted to the Union as our 26th state. The state has the most coastline on the Great Lakes and is bordered by Lakes Superior, […]