Johnny Appleseed
When Americans bite into crisp, fresh-picked apples or slices of apple pie, they should thank John Chapman. No one did more to encourage the cultivation of apple orchards during America’s…
Wyatt Earp
In legend, Wyatt Earp was a brave lawman who cleaned up western towns such as Dodge City, Kansas, and Tombstone, Arizona. In fact, he was not a heroic character. The…
Mark Twain
Mark Twain once defined a classic as “a book that people praise but don’t read.” But he was wrong where his own works were concerned. Although undeniably classics, The Adventures…
Indianapolis 500
The roar of 33 high-powered engines fills the air. Around the track, the cheers of 300,000 fans mix with the thunderous sounds of straining motors. Finally, after 500 miles of…
Ocean Liners
You spend the day soaking up the sun, swimming in the pool, and playing shuffleboard. Then you join friends in the “Garden Lounge,” where tea is served among the towering…
The Phonograph
President Rutherford B. Hayes couldn’t believe his ears—a box was politely asking about his health! Hayes had invited Thomas A. Edison, the famous inventor from New Jersey, to the White…
Clipper Ships
“Never, in these United States,” wrote historian Samuel Elliot Morison, “has the brain of man conceived, or the hand of man fashioned, so perfect a things as the clipper ship.”…
Thomas Alva Edison
“There’s a better way to do it,” was Thomas Edison’s lifelong motto. Edison proved that motto at his “invention factory” in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where he and his staff…
Brooklyn Bridge
One of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century, the Brooklyh Bridge opened with fireworks and fanfare on May 24, 1883. It connected New York State’s two largest cities,…
Timothy O'Sullivan
Taking pictures in the early years of photography was hard work. Cameras were large, heavy boxes that sat on strong tripods. Bright light, and at least several seconds were needed…
Otis and the Elevator
In May, 1854, an amazing demonstration took place at the American Institute Fair in New York City. Elisha Graves Otis rode an open elevator to a great height. Then he…
Board Games
Whether they are set up on the kitchen table or spread out on the living-room floor, board games bring friends and families together. Although games like chess and checkers go…
I.M. Singer
The sewing machine was invented by Elias Howe, but it was I.M. Singer who manufactured and marketed an affordable model for home use. In this effort, Singer established another “first”.…
Peter Cooper's Steam Locomotive
On September 16, 1830, a crowd gathered in Baltimore, Maryland, to watch a most unusual race. A spirited gray horse was pitted against a tiny steam locomotive, the Tom Thumb.…
Uncle Sam Wants You!
A big hello from the annals of American History!I WANT YOU to join me in a journey through various events of American History. We will meet important historical figures, review…
The Merger of Disney and ABC
Suddenly, TV personalities such as Roseanne and Barbara Walters were members of the same family as America’s favorite cartoon characters. Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. It happened in July, 1995,…
The Alien and Sedition Acts
In the U.S., the right to speak freely is guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. But in 1798, the country’s leaders tried to limit free speech and freedom of the…
The Oklahoma City Bombing
It was shortly after 9:00 a.m. on April 19, 1995. Workers had just reached their offices in the Afred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Some had dropped off…
Germans in America
Christmas trees, wedding rings, kindergartens, hot dogs. These are a few of the familiar things immigrants from Germany brought to America. The first group of Germans arrived in the New…
The Irish in America
Beginning in 1845, a terrible blight destroyed the Irish potato crop, the main food of a poor nation. Starvation was widespread, and those who could scrape together money for passage…