First Building in Chicago
On December 4, 1674, Father Marquette erected the first building in what would later become Chicago. He spent the winter there while on an exploratory journey through the region.
Exploration
Richard Byrd’s First South Pole Expedition
On November 29, 1929, Richard E. Byrd made his first flight over the South Pole. It was the first of five expeditions he made there during his life.
Viking 1 Lands on Mars
On July 20, 1976, Viking 1 became the first man-made object to land on Mars. It was one of the first spacecraft to conduct prolonged scientific studies on the surface on another planet.
First American Woman in Space
On June 18, 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. She was the third woman overall, after Soviet cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova and Svetlana Savitskaya.
Carmel Mission
On June 3, 1770, Franciscan friar Junipero Serra delivered the first church service at the Carmel Mission. It was was one of 21 missions he and his followers established along the California coast.
Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery
On May 21, 1804, Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery departed St. Charles on the Missouri River to begin their exploration of the American West. Traveling 8,000 miles over 28 months, they provided the first accurate mapping of the US west of the Mississippi River.
The Norse-American Issue
On May 18, 1925, the US Post Office issued two stamps known as the Norse-American Issue. The bi-color stamps were issued in relatively small quantities, with some post offices only receiving one or two sheets!
The American Museum of Natural History
On April 6, 1869, the American Museum of Natural History was established in New York City. It’s become one of the largest natural history museums in the world, with over 34 million items.
Birth of Kit Carson
Christopher Houston Carson was born December 24, 1809, in Richmond, Kentucky. Better known as Kit Carson, his contributions to the westward expansion of the United States rank him as one of the nation’s great folk heroes.