Disneyland opened in 1955. Walt Disney bought 160 acres of California land that had been covered in orange groves and spent $17 million on the park. Today over fourteen million people visit the park annually and spend about $3 billion.
Jul 172025
Jul 172025
John Jacob Astor (born Waldorf, Germany, 1763; died New York, New York, March 29, 1848) moved to New York City when he was twenty years old. He made quite a bit of money from a fur trading business. He invested most of his money in real estate in Manhattan Island and became very wealthy.
Chris Crutcher (born Dayton, Ohio, 1946) has written at least fifteen books and a number of short stories for young adults. His books include Ironman and Whale Talk. He received the Margaret Edwards Award in 2000 for his body of work. Children could visit his website at: Chris Crutcher.
Elbridge Gerry (born Marblehead, Massachusetts, 1744; died Washington, DC, November 23, 1814) signed the Declaration of Independence. He represented Massachusetts. He was also the fifth vice president of the United States when he died. His wife was the last surviving wife of a signer to die. Idea: The term gerrymandering relates to some of Gerry’s activities. Children could find out what the term means. Children could learn more at: Elbridge Gerry.
Karla Kuskin (born New York, New York, 1932; died Seattle, Washington, August 20, 2009) wrote and illustrated over 40 books for children. Her works include City Dog and Soap Soup. Children can visit a website about her at: Karla Kuskin.
Rosa Jackson Lumpkin (born Flint, Georgia, 1876; died Buffalo, New York, December 16, 1991) lived to be 115 years old.
Jacqueline Rogers (born Westport, Connecticut, 1958) writes and illustrates books for children. Her works include Best Friends Sleep Over and Kindergarten ABC. She has illustrated books by many other authors, including Beverly Cleary, Jean Marzollo, and Betsy Byars. Children could visit her website at: Jacqueline Rogers.
Jul 182025
Rome suffered a fire in AD 64. The fire burned for at least six days and destroyed about two thirds of the city.
Jul 182025
United States and Canada in 1932 agreed on a treaty to complete the St. Lawrence Seaway. However, bills for various plans from both countries failed, and World War II intervened. The Seaway finally opened on April 25, 1959. Children can learn more at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=523nDGCLKUE.
Jul 182025
Felicia Bond (born Yokohama, Japan, 1954) is a writer and illustrator of books for children. She illustrates the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series. Her written works include Tumble Bumble and Poinsettia and her Family. Children could visit an interesting website at Mouse.
John Glenn
John Glenn (born Cambridge, Ohio, 1921; died Columbus, Ohio, December 8, 2016) in 1962 was the first American astronaut to circle the earth. He traveled into space again in 1998 as a payload specialist on a shuttle mission. He was also a United States senator from Ohio from 1974 to 1999. Older children could learn more at: John Glenn.
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela (born Mvezo, South Africa, 1918; died Johannesburg, South Africa, December 5, 2013) was the son of a tribal chief. He became a lawyer and then joined the African National Congress. He was incarcerated for 28 years because he spoke out against apartheid. He was released in 1990, and he served as president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He received the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize. Children could read Nelson Mandela, written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson.
Jerry Stanley (born Highland Park, Michigan, 1941) writes books for children. His works include Children of the Dustbowl: The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp and Cowboys and Longhorns.
Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Yevtushenko (born Zimma, Russia, 1933; died Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 1, 2017) was a poet and novelist.
Jul 192025
Lady Jane Grey was deposed as Queen of England in 1553. The fifteen-year-old queen reigned for only nine days. Older children could read Ann Rinaldi’s Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey.
Jul 192025
Statue of Lucretia Mott
Seneca Falls Convention, an early women’s rights convention, was held in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. For two days the women debated voting rights, property rights, and laws regarding divorce. Speakers included Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Frederick Douglass. The meetings became an annual event until the Civil War broke out. Children can learn more at: Convention.
Jul 192025
Wimbledon tennis championships were held for the first time in 1877. The competition, held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, started on July 9 and featured 22 male players. Spencer Gore won the competition. Ladies’ Singles and Gentlemen’s Doubles were added in 1884. Ladies’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles premiered in 1913. Children could learn more at: Wimbledom.
Jul 192025
Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 became the first woman United States vice presidential nominee. She ran with Walter Mondale for the Democrats. They were defeated by Republicans Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Older children could learn more at: Geraldine Ferraro.
Jul 192025
Samuel Colt (born Hartford, Connecticut, 1814; died Hartford, Connecticut, January 10, 1862) perfected and manufactured the first repeating pistol. He was one of the first manufacturers to use an assembly line. His company, after his death, produced the six-shooters popular in the Old West.
Edgar Degas (born Paris, France, 1834; died Paris, France, September 26, 1917) was an Impressionist painter. Children could view some of his works at: Edgar Degas.
Marilyn Kaye (born New Britain, Connecticut, 1949) has written over 100 science fiction books for children and young adults. Her books include the Gifted series and the Replica series.
Garth Nix (born Melbourne, Australia, 1963) writes books for children and young adults. His work includes the fantasy The Old Kingdom series and The Seventh Tower series. Children can learn more at: Garth Nix.
Eve Merriam (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1916; died New York, New York, April 11, 1992) wrote plays, poetry, fiction and nonfiction for a wide range of ages. She published at least 88 books, including Ten Rosy Roses and Twelve Ways to Get to Eleven. Children can learn more at: Eve Merriam.
Mabel Louise Robinson (born Waltham, Massachusetts, 1874; died New York, New York, February 21, 1962) wrote at least thirteen books for young adults and adults. She wrote novels that showed that young women could be strong and independent. She twice received Newbery Honor Awards: in 1938 for Bright Island (illustrated by Lynd Kendall Ward), and in 1940 for Runner of the Mountain Tops: The Life of Louis Agassiz (also illustrated by Lynd Kendall Ward). Louis Agassiz was a paleontologist and naturalist.
Rosalyn Sussman Yalow (born Bronx, New York, 1921; died Bronx, New York, May 31, 2011) was a medical physicist. She, together with two colleagues, developed the radioimmunassay technique, a way to measure many types of medical conditions using only a small amount of blood. She received the 1977 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology. Children could learn more at: Rosalyn Sussman Yalow.