Lewis and Clark depart to explore the Northwest
On this day in US history, the Lewis and Clark expedition departs from St. Louis, Missouri, to begin their mission to explore the Northwest region from the Mississippi River to…
Kidnapped Lindbergh baby found dead
On this day in US history, two months after the kidnapping of the famed aviation hero Charles Lindbergh’s 20-month-old son from the family’s Hopewell, New Jersey, mansion on May 12,…
Dust storm sweeps from Great Plains and outer states
On this day in US history, a massive dust storm sent millions of tons of topsoil flying across the Great Plains and as far east as New York on May…
Joseph Schlitz was born
This week in Wisconsin history, well-known Milwaukee brewer Joseph Schlitz was born in Mainz, Germany, on May 15, 1831. He immigrated to Milwaukee in 1855 before working at a brewery…
Transcontinental railroad completes, unifying US
On this day in US history, the presidents of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads met in Utah to drive the last ceremonial railroad spike that connected the line…
Woodrow Wilson proclaims the first Mother’s Day
On this day in US history, President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation that established the first national Mother’s Day on May 9, 1914. The idea for the special day…
Allied Nations Worldwide Celebrate V-E Day
On this day in US history, the United States, along with other Allied countries, celebrated the first Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 1945. Cities across the Allied countries…
First Japanese Immigrant arrives in the US
On this day in US history, a 14-year-old fisherman named Manjiro is believed to be America’s first Japanese immigrant after he arrived in the US on a whaling ship on…
Hindenburg Crashes in New Jersey killing dozens
On this day in US history, the airship known as Hindenburg burst into flames after touching the docking tower in Lakehurst, New Jersey, killing 36 on board the aircraft on…
Alan Shepard becomes First American in Space
On this day in US history, Navy Commander Alan Shepard Jr. was launched into space aboard the Freedom 7 space capsule, becoming the first American to travel to space on May…