College of William and Mary
On February 8, 1693, a royal charter officially established the College of William and Mary. Today it’s the second-oldest college in America (behind Harvard).
American History
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Happy Birthday Sinclair Lewis
Harry Sinclair Lewis was born on February 7, 1885, in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. The first American to ever receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, he’s remembered as the conscience of his generation.
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Massachusetts Becomes 6th State
On February 6, 1788, Massachusetts ratified the US Constitution, making it the 6th state to join the Union. As part of the ratification process, the state insisted that certain measures concerning individual rights be added to the document, later leading to the creation of the Bill of Rights.
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Operation Cornflakes
On February 5, 1945, the US began a secret operation to overthrow Hitler with postage stamps.
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First Paper Money Issued in America
On February 3, 1690, the Massachusetts Bay Colony issued the first paper money in America. Known as a “bill of credit,” it was a popular experiment that was quickly put into use in the other colonies.
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Mercury-Redstone 2
On January 31, 1961, Mercury-Redstone 2 launched Ham the Chimp into space. It was an important step in a program aimed at getting the first American in space.
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Michigan Becomes 26th State
On January 26, 1837, President Andrew Jackson approved Michigan’s bid for statehood.
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First Official Transcontinental Telephone Call
On January 25, 1915, the first official transcontinental telephone call from New York to San Francisco was made. It was a revolutionary moment in communication, instantly linking callers on either side of the country.
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History of the Boy Scouts
On January 24, 1908, Robert Baden-Powell published the first installment of Scouting for Boys, a pivotal event in the creation of the worldwide Boy Scouts organization.
