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Christy Karras
CompassApril 26, 1607: English settlers make “first landing” in America at Cape Henry
Jamestown was, famously, the site of the first permanent English settlement in America. But before its pioneers looking for better lives could build on that spot, they had to get to there. And their first landing was at Cape Henry.
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April 25, 1960: USS Triton completes first underwater voyage around the world
The USS Triton’s around-the-world underwater voyage in 1960 was intended to prove U.S. strength at the height of the Cold War.
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April 23, 1914: First baseball game is played at what is now Wrigley Field
There was baseball in Chicago before there was a Wrigley Field, and Wrigley Field (originally called Weeghman Park) existed before the Chicago Cubs called it home. The stadium would help define baseball as we know it now, and — despite a lackluster Cubs record over the ensuing decades — it remains a symbol of baseball’s history and popularity.
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Budget Las Vegas: how to save on Sin City fun
As countless amateur gamblers and weekend partiers have learned the hard way, the cash we spend in Vegas stays in Vegas. But even as Sin City increasingly caters to high rollers with plush new rooms, top-notch entertainment and gourmet restaurants, a trip to Las Vegas can still be surprisingly inexpensive — if you play your cards right.
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April 21, 1962: Seattle World’s Fair opens, showcasing ‘city of the future’
With both the space race and Seattle’s rise to aerospace hub in full swing, the Seattle World’s Fair of 1962 celebrated the emerging jet age. The structures that remain feel quaint now, but many have become beloved landmarks.
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April 18, 1906: Earthquake, fire rip through San Francisco
In 1906, San Francisco was a thriving city of 400,000 residents, full of majestic Victorian mansions, beautiful hotels and thriving arts scene. But the earthquake that hit on the early morning of April 18, 1906, changed everything — including how the city would rebuild itself into the incarnation we know now.
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April 16, 1908: Roosevelt establishes Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges is both one of America’s most fascinating national monuments and one of the most remote. In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt designated this Utah’s first National Park Service area.
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April 14, 1865: President Lincoln is shot at Ford’s Theatre
Today, Ford’s Theatre stands as a memorial to the president who was shot there in 1865. But for decades, only government workers were allowed inside the historic building. And even though the public can wander through it again now, some believe the building is cursed.
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April 11, 1951: The Stone of Scone is found in Scotland after theft from London
The Stone of Scone has more than a funny name going for it: The shoebox-shaped chunk of mottled red sandstone occupies a major place in the history of both Scotland and England — as well as in a famous 1950 heist.
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April 9, 1867: U.S. Senate ratifies treaty with Russia to buy Alaska
In 1867, the United States Senate approved a treaty with Russia to buy a whopping 586,412 square miles of territory – none of it touching the contiguous American states.
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April 7, 1788: Pioneers reach Ohio, start first settlement in Northwest Territory
The Northwest Territory was the first American push westward outside the original 13 colonies. A group of 48 men, many Revolutionary War veterans, braved the elements to found the first settlement in Ohio Country in 1788.
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April 4, 1768: Philip Astley stages world’s first circus
The circus and travel are inextricably intertwined: circuses travel, and patrons travel to see them. It was that way almost from the very beginning, when Philip Astley, a horse trainer in London, opened his first equestrian-themed show in 1768.
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April 2, 1513: Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León discovers Florida
When Juan Ponce de León discovered Florida, he was said to be looking for the fabled Fountain of Youth — which adds a touch of irony to the state’s current status as one of America’s top retirement destinations.
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March 31, 1889: the Eiffel Tower is completed in Paris
The Eiffel Tower, which turns 125 years old today, is one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks — and one of its top tourist destinations. Believe it or not, it wasn't always so popular.
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March 28, 1566: Knights begin building Valetta, Malta’s capital
Christian knights built the modern (for the time) city of Valetta, with wide, straight streets and substantial palaces, churches and houses reflecting the Renaissance that was sweeping Europe.
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March 26, 1931: Swissair, the “flying bank” airline, is founded
Between its quiet start in the 1930s and its ultimate demise a few years ago, Swissair was a symbol of Switzerland’s prosperity and financial acumen.
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March 24, 1834: Legendary American explorer John Wesley Powell is born
Not only did John Wesley Powell row down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, he did it with only one arm. His quest to research the American West made him famous as one of America’s most intrepid travelers.
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March 21, 1871: Stanley sets off to find Livingstone
There really was a Livingstone, and there really was a Henry Morton Stanley who went looking for Livingstone when he disappeared in what would have been called, at the time, the deepest heart of Africa.
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March 19, 1931: Nevada legalizes gambling, changes its destiny
In the early 20th century, Nevada's economy and population growth were struggling. Its solution: legalize gambling.
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March 17, 1941: National Gallery of Art opens in Washington, D.C.
Always meant as a public museum for the American people, the gallery was originally funded by private donations. But did you know it's never been part of the Smithsonian?