Idaho Becomes 43rd State
On July 3, 1890, Idaho was admitted as America’s 43rd state. This occurred 27 years after its creation as a territory.
American History
President Garfield Assassinated
On July 2, 1881, an assassin shot President James Garfield just four months into his presidency. Dying two months later, his was the second shortest presidency in US history.
The Revenue Act of 1862
On July 1, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Revenue Act of 1862 into law, to help fund the Civil War. Revenue stamps remained in use off an on for a century, paying the tax on a wide variety of items.
US Begins Issuing Stamps in the Philippines
On June 30, 1899, the American military government issued its first stamps in the Philippines. Spanish colonization of the Philippines began in 1565 and continued for more than three centuries. In the late 1800s, the people of the Philippines revolted against the atrocities of their Spanish rulers. At the same time, unrest was growing in the Spanish colony of Cuba.
First US Space Shuttle Docking to Mir
On June 29, 1995, the US Space Shuttle Atlantis docked the Russian space station Mir for the first time. The mission, STS-71, was the third in the US/Russian Shuttle-Mir program. It began on June 27, 1995, when the Atlantis launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This was the 100th US human space launch from Cape Canaveral.
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.
Virginia Becomes 10th State
On June 25, 1788, Virginia ratified the US Constitution and was admitted as the 10th state of the Union.
Death of President Grover Cleveland
America’s 22nd and 24th president, Grover Cleveland, died on June 24, 1908, in Princeton, New Jersey. He was America’s first president to serve two non-consecutive terms and was known for his honesty and integrity.
Last Stamp Issued by the Post Office Department
On June 23, 1971, the Post Office issued its last commemorative stamp as a cabinet-level department. It was reorganized as the United States Postal Service, a corporation-like independent agency of the federal government.