First Electric Traffic Light
On August 5, 1914, the first electric traffic light was installed in Cleveland, Ohio. It was considered revolutionary at the time, and was soon followed by similar systems in cities around the country.
This Day in History
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The Saturday Evening Post
On August 4, 1821, The Saturday Evening Post published its first issue. Once one of the most widely circulated magazines, it is still in publication today.
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the American Dental Association
On August 3, 1859, twenty-six dentists met in Niagara Falls, New York at the first meeting of the American Dental Association (ADA).
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Birth of Frédéric A. Bartholdi
Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the designer of the Statue of Liberty, was born on August 2, 1834, in Colmar, France.
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First Phosphorescent U.S. Stamps
On August 1, 1963, the U.S. Post Office experimented with luminescent stamps for the first time, in an effort to speed up mail sorting and cancellation.
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Death of Robert A. Taft
Senator Robert A. Taft, son of America’s 27th president, died on July 31, 1953, in New York City. He was considered one of the five greatest US Senators.
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National Postal Museum Opens
On July 30, 1993, the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum opened in Washington, DC. It’s home to the National Philatelic Collection, one of the world’s largest and most valuable stamp collections.
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US and Japan Sign Treaty of Amity and Commerce
On July 29, 1858, the US signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with Japan, opening trade between the two nations. The treaty marked the end of more than 200 years of Japanese isolationism.
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Happy Birthday Jackie Kennedy
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was born on July 28, 1929, in Southampton, New York. As first lady from 1961-63, she worked to restore the White House and historic landmarks, among other projects.
