Today In History
5 Fun Facts About October 26 In Pennsylvania History
1. On October 26, 1776, Pennsylvania's delegation to the Continental Congress signed the Articles of Confederation, which established the first constitution for the newly formed United States. 2. On October 26, 1825, the Schuylkill Canal, a transportation route for coal and other goods between Pottsville and Philadelphia, officially opened with...
5 Fun Facts About October 25 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1854, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine became the first medical school in the United States to open a hospital specifically for women. The Philadelphia Hospital for Women, as it was called, provided a safe and supportive environment for female patients and helped to advance the field...
5 Fun Facts About October 24 In Pennsylvania History
1. On October 24, 1861, the Pennsylvania legislature passed an act to establish the Pennsylvania State Normal School. The school, which later became known as Millersville University, provided teacher education and has since grown to offer a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs. 2. In 1929, the opening ceremony of...
5 Fun Facts About October 23 In Pennsylvania History
1. On October 23, 1915, the world's first coast-to-coast long distance telephone service was inaugurated in Pennsylvania. The initial call was made by Alexander Graham Bell from New York to his assistant Thomas Watson in San Francisco. 2. Pennsylvania's historic Gettysburg College was founded on October 23, 1832, as Pennsylvania...
5 Fun Facts About October 22 In Pennsylvania History
1. On October 22, 1793, yellow fever reached Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This epidemic killed over 5,000 people and disrupted the economy of the city for years afterwards. 2. In 1836, the Pennsylvania Railroad was incorporated on October 22. This new railroad system would eventually become one of the largest transportation companies...
5 Fun Facts About October 21 In Pennsylvania History
1. On October 21, 1780, the Battle of Kings Mountain took place in South Carolina, but it had significant implications for Pennsylvania. The victory by Patriot forces over Loyalist troops shifted the momentum of the Revolutionary War in the South and helped hasten the defeat of British forces, ultimately leading...
5 Fun Facts About October 20 In Pennsylvania History
1. October 20, 1740: The Walking Purchase Fraud One of the most controversial events in Pennsylvania history occurred on October 20, 1740, when the colony’s governor, James Logan, organized the “walking purchase” of land from the Lenape Indian tribe. The deal, which granted the colonists more than 1,200 square miles...
5 Fun Facts About October 19 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1781, British spy John André was executed in Tappan, New York. André was involved in Benedict Arnold's infamous plot to surrender the strategic fortification of West Point to the British during the American Revolution. Pennsylvania played a key role in the capture of André, as he was detained...
5 Fun Facts About October 18 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1685, William Penn appointed Thomas Lloyd as the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania. Lloyd served as Deputy Governor multiple times throughout his career and was instrumental in establishing the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. 2. On October 18, 1775, General Richard Montgomery and his troops began...
5 Fun Facts About October 17 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1777, the Battle of Saratoga ended with American victory, which is considered a turning point in the Revolutionary War. This victory also contributed to the support of French military intervention in the war, which greatly assisted the American cause. 2. On October 17, 1871, segregationist journalist James Jackson...
5 Fun Facts About October 16 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1758, the Forbes Expedition concluded its mission to capture Fort Duquesne in what is now Pittsburgh. Led by General John Forbes, the expedition helped secure western Pennsylvania for British control during the French and Indian War. 2. On October 16, 1859, abolitionist John Brown led a raid on...
5 Fun Facts About October 15 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1752, Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous kite experiment during a thunderstorm in Philadelphia. The experiment proved that lightning was a form of electricity, and led to the invention of lightning rods. 2. In 1783, George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army at the Maryland...