Union Captures New Orleans
On this day in US history, Union troops officially took possession of New Orleans on April 28, 1862. The capture of the major southern city was a massive blow to…
Wisconsin Mobilizes Thousands for Spanish-American War
This week in Wisconsin history, after the announcement of the start of the Spanish-American War a week prior, Wisconsin was ordered to mobilize soldiers for the war effort on April…
Remembering the Sultana Steamship Explosion
On this day in US history, a steamboat named Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee, killing 1,700 passengers on April 17, 1865. Over 2,300 total passengers boarded the…
Luis Castro becomes first Latin American to play in the MLB
On this day in US history, Luis Castro broke the mold as the first known Latin American athlete to play for a Major League Baseball team on April 23, 1902.…
First Earth Day is Established
On this day in US history, the first official Earth Day was celebrated in the United States on April 22, 1970. Introduced initially by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, millions…
First Movie Projector demonstrated in US
On this day in US history, Woodville Latham and his sons Otway and Gray demonstrated their “Panopticon” on April 21, 1895. Inspired by the Kinetoscope, this invention would lead to…
Congress Approves the Creation of the Wisconsin Territory
This week in Wisconsin history, the US Congress debated the boundaries and infrastructure of a new territory to be introduced to the Union. On April 20th, 1836, President Andrew Jackson…
Shooting at Columbine High School is Remembered
On this day in US history, two teenage gunmen killed 13 people at a shooting spree at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, on April 20, 1999. The shocking killings…
Apollo 13 returns to Earth
On this day in US history, Apollo 13, the US lunar spacecraft that suffered a major malfunction on its mission to the moon, safely returned to Earth on April 17,…
Harriet Quimby becomes first woman to fly the English Channel
On this day in US history, Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly the English Channel on April 16, 1912. She took on this adventure right after becoming the…