Today In History
5 Fun Facts About October 30 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1735, John Adams, the second President of the United States, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. Although not a Pennsylvania native, Adams visited the state several times during his career and played a major role in the founding of the United States. 2. In 1775, one of the earliest...
5 Fun Facts About October 29 In Pennsylvania History
1. On October 29, 1682, William Penn received a royal charter to establish Pennsylvania as a colony. He named the city of Philadelphia, which would become the capital of the colony. 2. On October 29, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, British troops under General William Howe attacked Fort Mercer,...
5 Fun Facts About October 28 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1893, the first World Series was played at Pittsburgh's Exposition Park. The Boston Red Sox won the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. 2. In 1957, the Mackinac Bridge was opened, connecting Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas. The steel for the bridge was made in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. 3. In...
5 Fun Facts About October 27 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1682, William Penn arrived at what is now Chester, Pennsylvania, marking the beginning of the founding of the state. Penn's arrival was significant because he brought with him a vision for a just and tolerant society, as well as the principles of Quakerism. 2. On October 27, 1904,...
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...