Amelia Earhart in 1928 became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. However, she was a passenger (keeping the flight log) and not a pilot. Wilmer Stultz was the pilot. They left Newfoundland and landed in Wales. Children can learn more about Earhart at: Amelia Earhart.
Watergate Day occurred in 1972 when five men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic Headquarters. The headquarters were located in the Watergate building in Washington, DC. The men were tied to President Richard Nixon’s reelection committee. Over 60 people were indicted. Ultimately Richard Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, because he was about to be impeached. Older children can view a timeline of the Watergate scandal at: Watergate.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in 1999 had to be moved because the encroaching ocean was close to washing it away. The 2900-foot move was completed on July 9, 1999. Children could learn about the fascinating move at: Cape Hatteras.
William Hooper (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1742; died Hillsboro, North Carolina, October 14, 1790) signed the Declaration of Independence. He represented North Carolina. Born in Massachusetts, he graduated from Harvard and became an attorney. He moved to North Carolina and was elected to the state legislature. Passionate about establishing a new country, he had to hide from the British after they burned down his home. Children can learn more at: William Hooper.
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (born Oranienbaum, Russia, 1882; died New York, New York, April 6, 1971) was a Russian composer. Two of his most famous works are The Firebird and The Rite of Spring.
United States declared war against Great Britain, starting the War of 1812. Some people call the war the Second War of American Independence. The war ended December 24, 1814. Children could learn more at: War of 1812.
Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo in 1815 by Wellington and Blucher. This military loss ended Napoleon’s reign in France, and the British exiled him to Saint Helena where he died in 1821.
Sally Ride
Sally Ride in 1983 became the first American woman and the third woman in space. She and four other crew members were in the Challenger for six days. Since then, at least 73 women, including women from France, India, United Kingdom, South Korea, Italy, Japan, Canada, and China, have flown in space. Children can learn more at: Sally Ride.
Pam Conrad (born New York, New York, 1947; died Long Island, New York, January 22, 1996) wrote novels and picture books for children. She received the 1991 Edgar Award for Stonewords. Her book Our House: Stories of Levittown earned a 1995 Newbery Honor Award.
Pat Hutchins (born Yorkshire, England, 1942; died London, England, November 7, 2017) wrote and illustrated around 50 books for children. She received the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1974 for The Wind Blew. Children can learn more at: Pat Hutchins.
George Leigh Mallory
George Leigh Mallory (born Moberley, Cheshire, England, 1886; died on Mount Everest, June 8, 1924) was a mountain climber. His body was found in 1999 at around 27,000 feet. Experts are still puzzled as to whether he and his companion died on the way up or on the way down. He was asked why he wanted to climb the highest mountain in the world. His famous response was, “Because it is there.”
Angela Johnson (born Tuskegee, Alabama, 1961) is a poet. She has also written at least 40 books for children. She received the 1999 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award for The Other Side. She has earned several Coretta Scott King Awards: an Honor Award in 1991 for When I Am Old with You, the 1994 Medal for Toning the Sweep, a 1999 Honor Award for Heaven, and the 2004 Medal for The First Part Last. The 2004 Michael L. Printz Award was given to her for The First Part Last. Children can learn more at: Angela Johnson.
Chris Van Allsburg (born Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1949) is a children’s author and illustrator. He earned a 1980 Caldecott Honor Award for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. He received the 1981 Caldecott Medal for Jumanji and another Caldecott Medal for The Polar Express in 1985. Children can visit his website at: Chris Van Allsburg.
Vivian Vande Velde (born Rochester, New York, 1951) has written close to 40 books for children and young adults. Her Never Trust a Dead Man earned the 2000 Edgar Award. Children can learn more at: Vivian Vande Velde.
Juneteenth is today! Juneteenth is a portmanteau of the words June and nineteenth and commemorates the day in 1865 when slaves were given their freedom in Texas. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued January 1, 1863, slaves in Texas were not given their freedom until several months after the conclusion of the Civil War, on June 19, 1865. Congress designated Juneteenth as a federal holiday on June 16, 2021; President Biden signed the official document making it a federal holiday on June 17, 2021. Children can learn more about: Juneteenth.
Charters of Freedom Hall, National Archives, Washington
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) was created in 1934. It centralizes federal documents and makes them available to the public. The National Archives Building in Washington, DC, houses originals of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. One of the four copies of the Magna Carta is also there. Children can visit the National Archives website at: http://www.nara.gov.