The 19th Amendment
On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment went into effect, granting women’s suffrage. It was a major victory for suffragists following a decades-long fight.
American History
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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.
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Dolley Madison Saves Famous Washington Portrait
On August 24, 1814, as British troops approached the American capital, First Lady Dolley Madison insisted on saving important historical relics, including a portrait of our first president.
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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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Hawaii Becomes America’s 50th State
On August 21, 1959, America became the 50-state country we know today with the addition of Hawaii. Hawaii’s path to becoming the 50th state was long, complicated, and sometimes controversial.
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First Flight of the B-25 Mitchell Bomber
On August 19, 1940, the B-25 Mitchell bomber made its first flight. One of the most famous medium bombers of World War II, its combination…
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Birth of Meriwether Lewis
Explorer, soldier, and politician Meriwether Lewis was born on August 18, 1774, in Ivy, Albemarle County, Virginia. Best known for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, he went on to serve as governor of the Louisiana Territory.
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Marquis de Lafayette’s Tour of the US
On August 15, 1824, Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette, returned to the United States for the first time in nearly forty years. Now sixty-seven years old, Lafayette was the last surviving major general of the Revolutionary War.
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President Truman Announces Japan’s Surrender
After nearly six years of a world at war, the Japanese surrendered on August 14, 1945, effectively ending World War II.
