Today In History
5 Fun Facts About January 7 In Massachusetts History
1. In 1785, the first balloon crossing of the English Channel was attempted by Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries. Jeffries was a native of Massachusetts and a physician who graduated from Harvard College in 1763. 2. On January 7, 1839, Massachusetts Governor Edward Everett gave a speech in Boston in...
5 Fun Facts About January 1 In Massachusetts History
1) Massachusetts became the first state to officially recognize January 1 as New Year's Day in 1782, following the adoption of the Gregorian calendar by the United States. 2) The Boston Public Library, the first public library in the United States, opened its doors on January 1, 1854, providing access...
5 Fun Facts About December 21 In Massachusetts History
1. The Pilgrims landed in Plymouth - December 21, 1620 is the day the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This event marked the beginning of the Plymouth Colony and the establishment of the first permanent European settlement in New England. 2. The Boston Tea Party - On December 21, 1773,...
5 Fun Facts About December 6 In Massachusetts History
1. In 1877, Thomas Edison demonstrated the first phonograph to the public at the Menlo Park Laboratory in New Jersey. Although not in Massachusetts, the invention of the phonograph revolutionized the music industry and paved the way for modern-day recording technology. 2. On December 6, 1892, the Boston Symphony Orchestra...
5 Fun Facts About November 16 In Massachusetts History
1. In 1776, General George Washington finally secured Boston Harbor as British forces evacuated the city. This marked a pivotal moment in the American Revolution and helped to turn the tide in favor of the Patriots. 2. On November 16, 1835, Salem, Massachusetts officially incorporated as a city. This historic...
5 Fun Facts About October 8 In Massachusetts History
1. In 1738, Samuel Adams, revolutionary leader and signer of the Declaration of Independence, was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Adams played a crucial role in the American Revolution, helping to organize events such as the Boston Tea Party. 2. On October 8, 1813, the Battle of the Thames was fought...
5 Fun Facts About October 5 In Massachusetts History
1. In 1764, the Province of Massachusetts Bay passed the Sugar Act, which was a tax on foreign molasses and sugar. This act was met with strong opposition from the colonists and is considered one of the causes of the American Revolution. 2. On October 5, 1789, the first Jewish...
5 Fun Facts About September 20 In Massachusetts History
1. On September 20, 1630, the first General Court of Massachusetts, made up of representatives from several towns, was held in Boston. This marked the beginning of self-government for the colony. 2. In 1777, the Battle of Saratoga began, in which American forces led by General Horatio Gates defeated British...
5 Fun Facts About September 3 In Massachusetts History
1. On September 3, 1650, the first town meeting in America was held in Boston. This meeting established a tradition of democratic decision-making that continues to this day in many towns and cities across the country. 2. On September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the...
5 Fun Facts About September 1 In Massachusetts History
1. The Boston Massacre Trials began on September 1, 1770. The trials were held in the aftermath of the Boston Massacre, in which British soldiers fired on a group of colonists, resulting in five deaths. The trials were highly politicized and became a symbol of colonial resistance to British rule....
5 Fun Facts About August 28 In Massachusetts History
1. On August 28, 1963, Massachusetts Senator Edward Brooke became the first African American elected to the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction. 2. In 1830, on August 28, the Boston and Worcester Railroad officially opened for operation, making it the first railroad in Massachusetts and the second in the United States....
5 Fun Facts About August 9 In Massachusetts History
1. The first U.S. patent was issued in Massachusetts on August 9, 1785. The patent was granted to John Fitch for his invention of a steamboat, which he called a "steamboat navigated by steam power." 2. On August 9, 1832, the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society was founded in Boston. The society...