April 30th
Today in America's Present Past
1598 | The first theater performance in America by Spanish colonists near El Paso, Texas.
1774 | Indian Wars: Yellow Creek massacre.
1789 | POTUS: President George Washington was sworn in.
1798 | The U.S. Department of the Navy forms.
1803 | POTUS: President Jefferson completes the Louisiana Purchase.
1812| Statehood: Louisiana granted statehood.
1857 | San Jose State University was founded.
1858 | POTUS: First Lady Mary Dimmick Harrison was born.
1859 | Chess Master Paul Morphy retires.
1863 | Civil War: Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia.
1871 | Indian Wars: The Camp Grant Massacre occurs.
1879 | Author Sarah Josepha Hale died.
1889 | The first US national holiday, on the centennial of Washington's Inauguration.
1900 | Casey Jones died immortalized in "Ballad of Casey Jones.”
1900 | Congress: The "Hawaiian Organic Act" was enacted to make Hawaii a US territory.
1904 | Ice cream cone debuted, invented by Ernest A. Hamwi.
1916 | Scientist Claude Shannon was born in Petoskey, Michigan.
1921 | Inventor Roger L. Easton was born.
1926 | Aviator Bessie Coleman died.
1947 | Boulder Dam was renamed in honor of President Hoover.
1975 | Vietnam War: America concludes its involvement in the Vietnam conflict.
1982 | Actress Kirstin Dunst was born.
1983 | Musician Muddy Waters died.