On September 27, 1825, the Stockton-Darlington Railway inaugurated its first steam engine-powered trip, carrying passengers and coal. The success of that trip proved the rails could be used for transporting more than coal and helped to popularize steam locomotives in Europe and the US.
On September 25, 1920, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) was officially established as a national social welfare organization. The organization provides millions of dollars in support for disabled veterans.
On September 21, 1893, the Duryea brothers successfully tested America’s first gasoline-powered car in Massachusetts. Before a crowd of spectators, they exhibited the capabilities of unusual new vehicle.
The 1933 World’s Fair opened in Chicago, Illinois, on May 27, 1933. The fair was so popular, it ran for two years and was the first international fair to pay for itself.
On April 7, 1856, the SS Adriatic was launched. It was the largest and fastest ocean liner in the world and considered a modern marvel at the time. It was also the first ship pictured on a US stamp.
On April 4, 1968, the USPS issued a $1 stamp that, when combined with a parcel post stamp, was used to send mail and packages to American service members overseas.
On April 3, 1860, the Pony Express made its first trip from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California. Though short-lived, the Pony Express was a revolution in communication, able to transport important letters across the country more than twice as fast as the existing overland mail system.
On March 3, 1863, an Act of Congress granted postal agents the ability to accept newspaper bundles, which would lead to the first US Newspaper and Periodical stamps two years later.
On February 20, 1915, the Panama-Pacific Exposition opened in San Francisco, California. The expo was a celebration of the city and the Panama Canal.