This Day In History

On March 27, 1884, the first long-distance telephone call between New York and Boston proved that voices could travel hundreds of miles over a wire. That single connection helped shift the telephone from a local novelty into a system capable of linking entire regions.

On March 26, 1953, Dr. Jonas Salk announced the first successful polio vaccine, offering hope against one of the most feared diseases of the 20th century. That moment now anchors National Science Appreciation Day, a modern observance that highlights how careful research and tested discoveries can change lives.

On March 25, 1931, civil rights leader, journalist, and suffragette Ida B. Wells died at the age of 68. Her life’s work—documenting injustice with facts and confronting violence with fearless reporting—left a detailed record of a nation struggling with race and equality.

On March 24, 1958, Elvis Presley stepped away from the spotlight and into a US Army uniform. At the peak of his fame, the nation’s biggest rock and roll star chose to serve like any other draftee.

On February 16, 1909, stamps printed on an experimental bluish paper were issued. These stamps were part of an effort to prevent paper shrinkage.

On February 3, 1990, the US Postal Service issued a small, colorful stamp that marked a quiet shift in how everyday American mail could look. That Beach Umbrella stamp became the first release in the short-lived but distinctive Mini-Scapes Series.

After a yearlong campaign, the USPS held a special midnight first-day ceremony on January 8, 1993, for the long-awaited Elvis Presley stamp.

On January 7, 1785, the sky briefly became part of the postal system. In a daring balloon flight watched by astonished crowds, mail was carried through the air for the first time, marking a bold experiment in communication and transportation that captured the imagination of the world.

On March 28, 1885, the Salvation Army was formally established in the United States, 20 years after the original organization was founded in London.

After suffering a series of heart attacks, former president Dwight D. Eisenhower died of heart failure on March 28, 1969. He commanded the Allied Expeditionary Force in WWII and served as our 34th president.

On March 28, 1964, amateur radio operators provided essential emergency communications in the wake of a devastating earthquake in Alaska.

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, better known as Raphael, is believed to have been born on either March 28 or April 6, 1483, in Urbino, Duchy of Urbino.  Raphael produced a large number of paintings during his short life and is considered one of the great masters of his time.