July 24th
Today in America's Present Past
1651 | Anthony Johnson, a free African American, receives a grant of 250 acres in Virginia.
1701 | Explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded a trading post at Fort Pontchartrain, which later became the City of Detroit, Michigan.
1758 | George Washington was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses, representing Frederick County.
1803 | Architect Alexander Jackson Davis was born.
1821 | Outlaw Bill the Butcher was born.
1824 | Harrisburg Pennsylvanian newspaper publishes results of the first public opinion poll, with a clear lead for Andrew Jackson.
1832 | Benjamin Bonneville leads the first wagon train across the Rocky Mountains through Wyoming's South Pass.
1847 | Civil Rights: Brigham Young and his Mormon followers arrive at Salt Lake City, Utah.
1862 | POTUS: President Martin Van Buren died.
1863 | Civil War: Battle at Battle Mountain, Virginia.
1870 | Architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. was born.
1880 | The first commercial hydroelectric power plant in the world began generating electricity in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
1897 | Aviator Amelia Earhart was born.
1898 | Opera singer Caterina Jarboro was born.
1900 | Civil Rights: New Orleans, Louisiana, race riots start.
1901 | Author O. Henry is released from prison in Austin, Texas, after serving three years for embezzlement.
1911 | American explorer Hiram Bingham rediscovers Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas.
1915 | Excursion ship Eastland capsizes in Lake Michigan, 852 die.
1934 | Outlaw Sante Kimes 'Dragon Lady' was born.
1951 | Actress Lynda Carter was born.
1952 | Director Gus Van Sant was born.
1952 | Film: “High Noon” debuted.
1954 | Activist Mary Church Terrell died.
1959 | Vice President Nixon argues with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in Moscow, known as the "Kitchen Debate.”
1964 | Civil Rights: James Powell police shooting riot in Rochester, New York.
1968 | Actress Kristin Chenoweth was born.
1969 | Actress Jennifer Lopez was born.
1997 | SCOTUS: Justice William Brennan died.
1967 | Civil Rights: A Long, hot summer of riots continues in Toledo, Ohio, and Rochester, New York.
1998 | Film: “Saving Private Ryan” debuted.
2012 | Scientist Robert Ledley died.
2020 | Entertainer Regis Philbin died.
2021 | Entertainer Jackie Mason died.