Today In History
5 Fun Facts About October 16 In Delaware History
1. On October 16, 1914, the Wilmington and Northern Railroad officially opened a new electrified line connecting Wilmington to Reading, Pennsylvania, providing greater connection between the two regions and boosting commerce and travel. 2. In 1959, on October 16, the artist Andrew Wyeth's painting "Christina's World" was exhibited at the...
5 Fun Facts About October 14 In Delaware History
1. In 1638, a group of Swedish colonists arrived in the region now known as Wilmington, Delaware. They founded the colony of New Sweden, which was the first European settlement in the Delaware Valley. 2. On October 14, 1777, the Battle of Germantown was fought in Pennsylvania during the American...
5 Fun Facts About October 8 In Delaware History
1. The first recorded land grant in Delaware was issued on October 8, 1640, to Dutch colonist Pieter Cornelisz Plockhoy. The land grant was for a parcel of land near the present-day town of Lewes. 2. On October 8, 1777, British forces under General William Howe captured the city of...
5 Fun Facts About October 7 In Delaware History
1. On October 7, 1914, the Wilmington race riot, also known as the Wilmington Insurrection, occurred. It was a violent conflict between white supremacists and black residents in Wilmington, Delaware, resulting in at least 30 deaths and the overthrow of the elected biracial government. 2. In 1777, Revolutionary War soldiers...
5 Fun Facts About October 5 In Delaware History
1. On October 5, 1789, President George Washington visited Wilmington, Delaware as part of his tour of the new nation. While there, he stayed at the Golden Fleece Tavern and attended a ball in his honor. 2. The Dover International Speedway hosted its first NASCAR race on October 5, 1969....
5 Fun Facts About September 27 In Delaware History
1. In 1777, the Battle of Brandywine took place in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, and partially in Delaware. British forces defeated the Continental Army, and the loss led to the fall of Philadelphia. 2. On September 27, 1779, the Continental Congress appointed John Dickinson as President of Delaware. Dickinson was known...
5 Fun Facts About September 25 In Delaware History
1. In 1777, the British army captured Wilmington, Delaware. The Continental Army was forced to retreat to nearby Chester, Pennsylvania. 2. In 1782, Delaware became the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States. 3. In 1804, the first steam-powered vessel, the Phoenix,...
5 Fun Facts About September 24 In Delaware History
1. On September 24, 1789, Delaware became the first state to ratify the United States Constitution, making it the first state to officially join the newly formed United States of America. 2. In 1823, the Delaware Academy was founded in Newark, Delaware. The school would later become the University of...
5 Fun Facts About September 21 In Delaware History
1. In 1776, the Delaware Assembly declared the state's independence from Great Britain, becoming the first state to do so. This event is now celebrated as Delaware Day on December 7th. 2. In 1934, the DuPont Company successfully created neoprene, a synthetic rubber that became essential for manufacturing during World...
5 Fun Facts About September 20 In Delaware History
1. On September 20, 1777, the Battle of Brandywine was fought near Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, just across the Delaware border. The British victory allowed them to march to Philadelphia unopposed, leading to the occupation of the city for much of the Revolutionary War. 2. In 1865, on September 20, the...
5 Fun Facts About September 13 In Delaware History
1. In 1777, the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, marched through Delaware on their way to confront the British in Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War. 2. In 1847, the Delaware Railroad was completed, connecting Wilmington and Baltimore for the first time and allowing for easier transportation of goods...
5 Fun Facts About September 10 In Delaware History
1. In 1777, British troops under General William Howe landed in Delaware in what would become the Battle of Brandywine, a major engagement in the American Revolution. 2. On September 10, 1846, the Delaware Railroad, the first steam-powered passenger train in the state, began service between Wilmington and Frenchtown, Maryland....