Birth of First English Child in America
On August 18, 1587, Virginia Dare was born at Roanoke Island (present-day North Carolina). However, little of her life after that is know due to the mysterious disappearance of the entire colony.
This Day in History
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American Victory at the Battle of Bennington
On August 16, 1777, American troops won the Battle of Bennington – though the battle didn’t actually take place in Vermont.
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Opening of the Panama Canal
After a decade of construction, the Panama Canal opened to traffic on August 15, 1914.
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Largest and Most Complete T-Rex Skeleton Discovered
While searching for fossils in South Dakota, paleontologist Sue Hendrickson made a colossal discovery on August 12, 1990.
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Houdini Performs His Greatest Feat
On August 5, 1926, master illusionist and escape artist Harry Houdini entered the record books after spending 91 minutes in a coffin underwater.
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Christopher Columbus Sets Sail
On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus left Spain to find a water route to the fabled gold and spice islands of China. Though he didn’t find what he was looking for, his trip made him famous.
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President Harding Dies Suddenly
Though he had been in poor health for some time, President Warren G. Harding’s death on August 2, 1923, was a shock to the nation, and spurred numerous unfounded rumors.
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Birth of Francis Scott Key, Author of National Anthem
Born on August 1, 1779, in western Maryland, Francis Scott Key witnessed the devastating attack of Fort McHenry which inspired him to pen one of our nation’s most patriotic tunes – “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
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Ice Cream Cone is Popularized at St. Louis World’s Fair
The St. Louis World’s Fair (also known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition) ran for seven months in 1904 and saw the introduction of a number of foods we still eat today. These included hamburgers, hot dogs, peanut butter, cotton candy, and ice cream cones.
