Red Ball Express
On August 25, 1944, the Red Ball Express truck convoy system opened to help rush supplies to soldiers at the front. It eventually helped to transport 3.5 tons of supplies per minute.
Transportation
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First Presidential Motorcade
Touring New England on August 22, 1902, Theodore Roosevelt became the first sitting president to publicly ride in an electric automobile accompanied by security. This was the first modern presidential motorcade.
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First Electric Passenger Train
On June 27, 1895, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad’s Royal Blue became the first US passenger service to use electric locomotives, signaling a new era of modern rail travel. Running from Washington, DC, to New York City, the train combined speed, comfort, and cutting-edge technology.
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Opening of the Golden Gate Bridge
On May 28, 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge officially opened to traffic. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its opening and was dubbed a “Wonder of the World” structure.
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First US Airmail Flight
On May 15, 1918, America’s airmail service began when two Curtiss Jennys departed New York and Washington, DC. In the months that followed, pioneering aviators expanded airmail service over the treacherous Allegheny Mountains to Chicago and eventually the west coast.
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Birth of Harry Truman
President Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri on May 8, 1884. America’s 33rd president, he led America through the final months of WWII and the early years of the Cold War.
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Opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway
On April 25, 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway opened, connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. Construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway was nearly as ambitious as the Panama Canal project.
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The Titanic Sinks
One of the most well known maritime disasters in history occurred on April 14, 1912, when the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank.
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Boat Stamps Issued
On April 1, 1960, the US issued two boat stamps for use on motorboat applications. The stamps were part of an effort to promote boating safety in collaboration with the Coast Guard.
