Thoreau Publishes Walden
On August 9, 1854, transcendentalist writer Henry David Thoreau published his most famous work – Walden. It was based on the two years he spent contemplating Transcendentalist philosophy at Walden Pond, Massachusetts.
This Day in History
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Graf Zeppelin Begins Round-The-World Journey From New Jersey
On August 8, 1929, the Graf Zeppelin departed the airfield in Lakehurst, New Jersey, to return 21 days later. The popularity of this trip created “Zeppelin Mania” and inspired several later flights.
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Birth of Ralph Bunche
Ralph Johnson Bunche was born on August 7, 1904, in Detroit, Michigan.
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American Victory at Oriskany
On August 6, 1777, American troops under General Nicholas Herkimer claimed victory at the Battle of Oriskany. The battle sparked a war between the British’s Native American allies and prevented them from reaching Albany.
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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.
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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.
