This Week in History

May 15- 1841: The first wagon train of settlers that will reach California begins the 1,730 mile voyage from Independence, MO. 1869: The National Women’s Suffrage Association is formed in

May 8- 1541: Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto becomes the first European to discover the Mississippi River. 1884: Harry S. Truman, who would be elected vice president in 1944 and

May 1- 1753: Botanist Carl Linnaeus publishes his Species Plantarum, establishing a precise and workable two-word system for naming plants, forming the basis of modern plant taxonomy. 1886: Major labor

Apr. 24- 1184 BCE: Greek soldiers enter the fortified city of Troy by hiding inside the “Trojan Horse” (traditional date). 1898: Spain declared war against the US, marking the beginning

Apr. 17- 1492: Christopher Columbus signs a contract with Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, promising him 10% of riches found on his upcoming westward voyage. (Cha-CHING!) 1790: Statesman, inventor, diplomat,

Apr. 10- 1815: The largest volcanic eruption ever recorded occurs as Mt. Tambora in present-day Indonesia explodes, expelling an estimated 36 cubic miles of ash and rock into the atmosphere,

Apr. 3- 1882: Infamous outlaw and bank robber Jesse James is shot and killed by a member of his gang at his home in St. Joseph, MO. 1948: President Harry

Mar. 27- 1912: First Lady Helen Taft and the wife of Japan’s ambassador to the US plant the first two cherry trees along the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. 1964:

Mar. 20– 1800: Alessandro Volta reports his discovery of the electric battery to the Royal Society of London (and we assume they got a real “charge” out of his invention!).

Mar. 13– 1852: The cartoon version of “Uncle Sam” first appears in NY Lantern Weekly. 1887: Chester Greenwood of Maine receives a patent for earmuffs (just in time for the