THE CONCEPTION OF THE ASTRODOME (FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS) Major League Baseball expanded to Houston in 1960 when the National League agreed to add two teams. The Houston Colt .45s (renamed the Astros in 1965) were to begin play in 1962, along with their expansion brethren New York Mets. Roy Hofheinz, […]

1750s 1751: WILLIAM PIGOTT OPENED FIRST INN IN NOVA SCOTIA (IN HALIFAX) 1860s 1864: GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY FOUNDED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. 1910s BORN 1912: SONJA HENIE (FIGURE SKATER) BORN 1918: BETTY FORD (U.S. FIRST LADY) 1920s BORN 1921: FRANCO CORELLI (OPERA SINGER) 1926: SECOND DAY OF […]

Every Year WORLD HEALTH DAY 1770s BORN 1770: WILLIAM WORDSWORTH (POET) 1890s BORN 1890: MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS (AMERICAN CONSERVATIONIST) DIED 1891: PHINEAS TAYLOR (“P. T.”) BARNUM (CIRCUS OWNER) BORN 1893: IRENE CASTLE (DANCER) BORN 1897: WALTER WINCHELL (COLUMNIST & BROADCASTER) 1910s BORN 1915: BILLIE HOLIDAY […]

1190s DIED 1199: KING RICHARD I (ENGLISH MONARCH, CALLED “RICHARD THE LIONHEART”) 1480s BORN 1483: RAPHAEL (ARTIST) 1520s DIED 1520: RAPHAEL (ARTIST) 1860s 1868: BRIGHAM YOUNG, THE MORMON CHURCH LEADER, MARRIED HIS 27TH AND LAST WIFE 1869: SNOW-MELTING APPARATUS PATENTED 1890s 1896: THE FIRST MODERN […]

1610s 1614: POCAHONTAS MARRIED ENGLISHMAN JOHN ROLFE 1760s 1768: NEW YORK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FORMED 1850s BORN 1856: BOOKER T. WASHINGTON (EDUCATOR & ACTIVIST) BORN 1858: WASHINGTON ATLEE BURPEE (BOTANIST, SEEDSMAN) 1880s 1887: ANNE SULLIVAN MADE A BREAKTHROUGH WITH BLIND/DEAF STUDENT HELEN KELLER, BY CONVEYING […]

EASTER SUNDAY Easter in the western Christian church can occur as early as March 22 and as late as April 25. It is observed on the Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon (a fixed spring date set by the church). This Christian holy day celebrates […]

1780s BORN 1783: WASHINGTON IRVING (AUTHOR) 1820s 1829: JAMES CARRINGTON PATENTED A COFFEE MILL 1830s BORN 1837: JOHN BURROUGHS (NATURALIST) 1860s 1860: THE PONY EXPRESS BEGAN POSTAL SERVICE 1880s DIED 1882: JESSE JAMES (OUTLAW) 1882: THE OUTLAW JESSE JAMES WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY ROBERT […]

GOOD FRIDAY Good Friday, also known as Great Friday, Holy Friday, or Sorrowful Friday, is a major Christian observance that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is a time for Christians to reflect upon his suffering and willing sacrifice to atone for […]

APRIL FOOLS’ DAY The term “All Fools,” was probably meant as a deliberate stab at All Saints (November 1) and All Souls (November 2) Day. Although the origin of playing practical jokes and pranks on this day is hazy, many folklorists believe it may go […]

Every Year US: VIRGIN ISLANDS TRANSFER DAY 1590s BORN 1596: RENE DESCARTES (PHILOSOPHER) 1620s BORN 1621: ANDREW MARVELL (POET) 1730s BORN 1732: FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN (COMPOSER) 1770s 1776: ABIGAIL ADAMS WROTE HER HUSBAND, JOHN, AT THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ABOUT THE PROPOSED DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, […]

National Doctors’ Day United States (from Wikipedia Commons) In the United States, National Doctors’ Day is a day on which the service of physicians to the nation is recognized annually. The idea came from Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond, and the date […]

BORROWING DAYS The last three days of March have a reputation for being stormy. Scottish folklore proposes that these three days were borrowed from April so that March might extend his power. The Spanish story about the borrowing days is that a shepherd promised March […]

PALM SUNDAY This Christian observance falls on the Sunday before Easter and is the sixth and last Sunday of Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday. The beginning of Holy Week, Palm Sunday marks the day when Christ rode into Jerusalem a week before his death […]

PASSOVER BEGINS AT SUNDOWN. In 2021, Passover begins at sundown on Saturday, March 27, and ends at nightfall on Sunday, April 4.Pesach or Passover is an annual weeklong festival commemorating the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt and slavery. The holiday, which begins on the […]

Every Year HAWAII: REGATTA DAY 1640s DIED 1649: JOHN WINTHROP (FOUNDER OF MASS. BAY COLONY) 1800s 1804: CONGRESS CREATED THE TERRITORY OF ORLEANS 1820s 1821: NORTH WEST COMPANY MERGED WITH HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY200 Years Ago DIED 1827: LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (COMPOSER) 1870s 1872: AN ESTIMATED […]

ANNUNCIATION OR LADY DAY The precession of the equinoxes has moved the astronomical beginning of spring back four days to March 21, but its previous date of March 25 became identified with the Virgin Mary, who was told by the angel Gabriel on that day […]

1600s DIED 1603: QUEEN ELIZABETH I (ENGLISH MONARCH) 1640s 1644: ROGER WILLIAMS GRANTED CHARTER FOR COLONY RHODE ISLAND 1820s BORN 1828: HORACE GRAY (SUPREME COURT JUSTICE) 1830s BORN 1834: JOHN WESLEY POWELL (EXPLORER) 1870s BORN 1874: HARRY HOUDINI (MAGICIAN) 1880s BORN 1886: EDWARD WESTON (PHOTOGRAPHER) […]

Every Year NATIONAL PUPPY DAY WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY 1690s BORN 1699: JOHN BARTRAM (BOTANIST) 1740s 1743: THE FIRST STANDING OVATION WAS RECORDED AT THE FIRST PERFORMANCE OF HANDEL’S MESSIAH. KING GEORGE WAS SO INSPIRED (OR RESTLESS) THAT HE JUMPED TO HIS FEET; […]

Every Year WORLD WATER DAY 1620s 1621: MASSASOIT, CHIEFTAIN OF THE WAMPANOAGS, CAME TO PLYMOUTH TO “TREAT OF PEACE” WITH PILGRIMS 1630s 1630: GAMBLING MADE ILLEGAL IN BOSTON 1680s DIED 1687: JEAN-BAPTISTE LULLY (COMPOSER) 1760s 1765: STAMP ACT PASSED BY THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENT, REQUIRING AMERICAN […]