Subscribe to This Day in History

Discover events in American history – plus the stamps that make them come alive.

Today’s Article

  • #37 1860 24c Washington, Gray Lilac, Perf. 15.5
    April 10, 2026

    Patent Act of 1790
    On April 10, 1790, President George Washington signed the Patent Act of 1790 into law, creating a formal system to protect new inventions in the young United States. In just a few paragraphs, the new nation set rules that would shape American innovation for generations.
    Read More