Today In History
5 Fun Facts About May 7 In Pennsylvania History
1. On May 7, 1684, William Penn granted a charter for the town of Germantown, which is now part of Philadelphia. Germantown was founded by a group of German immigrants seeking religious freedom and Penn's charter provided them with a plot of land to build their homes and establish their...
5 Fun Facts About May 6 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1889, the Great Johnstown Flood occurred on May 6 in Pennsylvania. The disaster was caused by the failure of the South Fork Dam, which released 20 million tons of water downstream, killing over 2,000 people and causing extensive damage to the town of Johnstown. 2. On May 6,...
5 Fun Facts About May 5 In Pennsylvania History
Sorry, but as an AI language model, I cannot guarantee 100% accuracy or completeness in my answers. However, I can try my best to provide some interesting facts about May 5 in Pennsylvania history: 1. In 1864, May 5 marked the beginning of the Battle of the Wilderness during the...
5 Fun Facts About May 4 In Pennsylvania History
1. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Upholds Wetzel v. Craft's Prison Reform On May 4, 1978, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the controversial Wetzel v. Craft's decision, which mandated drastic prison reforms in Pennsylvania. The case, filed by prisoners at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas, alleged that the Pennsylvania Department...
5 Fun Facts About May 3 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1752, Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous kite experiment in Philadelphia, proving that lightning was a form of electricity. 2. On May 3, 1877, a devastating tornado swept through the town of New Richmond in southwestern Pennsylvania, killing 19 people and causing widespread damage. 3. In 1963, the May...
5 Fun Facts About May 2 In Pennsylvania History
1. The first zoo in the United States was established in Philadelphia on May 2, 1874. Originally known as the Philadelphia Zoological Society, it is now called the Philadelphia Zoo and is home to over 1,300 animals. 2. On May 2, 1682, William Penn sailed up the Delaware River and...
5 Fun Facts About May 1 In Pennsylvania History
1. May Day celebrations, including the crowning of a May Queen, were popular in early Pennsylvania. Many German immigrants brought with them the tradition of Maifest, where villages would celebrate the arrival of spring with dancing and games. 2. The Haymarket affair in Chicago on May 1, 1886, had a...
5 Fun Facts About April 30 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States in New York City. However, on the same day, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate met for the first time in Philadelphia as the state's capital. 2. The Battle of Jenkins' Ferry took place...
5 Fun Facts About April 29 In Pennsylvania History
1. Pennsylvania Established as a Colony On April 29, 1681, the English king, Charles II, granted a charter to William Penn to establish a new colony in America. Penn had previously been a Quaker missionary who had traveled to America to convert Native Americans. The land grant was named Pennsylvania...
5 Fun Facts About April 28 In Pennsylvania History
1. On April 28, 1788, Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the United States Constitution, after Delaware. This historic event established the framework for the federal government and its relationship with the states. 2. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company was incorporated on April 28, 1846. This railroad company became one...
5 Fun Facts About April 27 In Pennsylvania History
1. On April 27, 1684, the first recorded shipment of Pennsylvania flour was sent to England. This event marks the beginning of the state's significant role in the global grain trade. 2. In 1777, the Continental Congress ratified the Articles of Confederation in York, Pennsylvania. These papers established the first...
5 Fun Facts About April 26 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1865, the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, took place in Virginia. Booth had recently fled to a farm in Maryland, where Union soldiers had tracked him and cornered him in a barn. After refusing to surrender, Booth was shot and killed. 2. In 1898,...