On March 17, 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt presided over the opening of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. The museum, created from the art collection and generosity of financier Andrew Mellon, gave the United States a national gallery comparable to those long established in Europe.
On March 16, 1986, Freedom of Information Day was established to celebrate the public’s right to access government records. The date was chosen to honor the birthday of James Madison, a key author of the Constitution who strongly believed that informed citizens are essential to a functioning democracy.
On March 15, 1820, Maine became the 23rd state in the United States. The decision ended nearly two centuries of rule by Massachusetts and recognized the growing population and independence of the northern district.
On March 14, 1794, Eli Whitney received a patent for his cotton gin nearly five months after submitting his application. The machine would dramatically speed up cotton processing and reshape the economy of the American South.
On March 13, 1942, the US Army officially launched its War Dog Program, marking the beginning of organized military service for American dogs. Today, that date is remembered as National K9 Veterans Day, honoring the loyalty, courage, and sacrifice of the dogs that have served beside US troops.
On March 12, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi began a 240-mile march to the sea to protest British control of India’s salt supply. The simple act of picking up a handful of salt would ignite nationwide civil disobedience and draw the world’s attention to India’s struggle for independence.
On March 11, 1977, the United States Postal Service issued its first se-tenant stamps in booklet form. Released at New York City’s INTERPEX stamp show, the unusual booklet combined two postal rates in a single pane and introduced the first multicolor US booklet stamp.
On March 10, 1862, the United States government issued its first widely circulated national paper money. These new notes, soon nicknamed “greenbacks,” were created during the financial strain of the American Civil War and transformed how the federal government financed itself.
On March 9, 1841, the US Supreme Court issued its final ruling in the case of United States v. Schooner Amistad. The decision ended a two-year legal battle over whether a group of kidnapped Africans were property—or free people who had fought for their liberty.