Zebulon Pike leads expedition across American Southwest
On this day in US history, Zebulon Pike, the army officer who led an exploring party in 1805 to find the source of the Mississippi River, set off on a…
Sedition Act becomes federal law
On this day in US history, one of the most egregious breaches of the US Constitution in history became a federal law when Congress passed the Sedition Act on July…
Congress Enacts Northwest Ordinance
On this day in US history, Congress enacted the “Northwest Ordinance”, structuring elements in the Northwest Territory and creating policy for new states to join the nation on July 13,…
The Great Heat Wave of 1936
This week in Wisconsin history, one of the hottest heat waves Wisconsin has ever endured happened on July 13, 1936. At multiple points during the week from the 7th to…
Millard Fillmore sworn is as 13th US president
On this day in US history, Vice President Millard Fillmore was sworn in as the 13th president of the United States on July 10, 1850. Days after falling ill around…
Con man “Soapy” Smith killed in Alaska
On this day in US history, a disgruntled city engineer murders one of the most notorious con men in the history of the West in Skagway, Alaska, on July 8,…
Congress sets dollar as the official US currency
On this day in US history, the Continental Congress established the dollar as the currency of the early United States on July 6, 1785. Just having recently won the Revolutionary…
The First Ice Cream Sundae
This week in Wisconsin history, Edward C. Berner, a pharmacist and owner of a soda fountain in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, created the first ice cream sundae on July 8, 1881.…
President Johnson signs Civil Rights Act
On this day in US history, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the historic Civil Rights Act into law in a nationally televised ceremony at the White House on July 2,…
The Battle of Gettysburg begins
On this day in US history, Union and Confederate forces in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, began one of the largest military conflicts in North American history on July 1, 1863. On the…