Nylon Toothbrushes
Nylon was patented in the United States in 1937. Wallace H. Carothers, an employee of DuPont, patented the amazing synthetic polymer. One of the first applications was to replace hog-bristle toothbrushes with nylon-bristle toothbrushes. Children could view the patent at: Nylon Patent.
Blood bank was created in 1937. Dr. Bernard Fantus, of Chicago’s Cook County Hospital, coined the term blood bank and then established the bank. A blood bank is a location where blood is drawn, stored, and preserved for future use in blood transfusions. Children can learn more at an excellent website: Blood Bank.
Spinach farmers in Crystal City, Texas, built a statue of Popeye in 1937. About half the spinach consumed in the United States is grown in Texas. China is the world’s leading producer of spinach. Children can learn about spinach and its nutritional values at: Spinach.
Hindenburg before last Flight
Hindenburg dirigible exploded in 1937 at 7:20 PM. Thirty-six of the 97 passengers and crew died. It was approaching its mooring mast at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Children could learn how modern-day airships work at: Airships.
National Chocolate Chip Day is today! Originally chips were made by chopping segments away from blocks of chocolate. Ruth Graves Wakefield somewhat invented chocolate chips in 1937 when she developed her Toll House chocolate chip cookies. Today chocolate chips are manufactured in the drop form in a variety of flavors and sizes.
Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge opened to pedestrian traffic in 1937, and vehicles could cross the bridge on May 28. Construction began on January 5, 1933. About 4,200 feet long, the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge until 1964 when the Verrazano Narrows Bridge opened. Children can learn more at: Research. They could also learn more at America’s Library: Golden Gate.
Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan
Amelia Earhart, Fred Noonan, and their airplane disappeared somewhere in the Pacific in 1937. They had left Miami, Florida, on June 1, 1937, with the goal of flying around the world. On June 29, they had reached Papua New Guinea, and they had around 7,000 more miles to go. Then they failed to report. The government looked for their airplane for weeks, but no evidence was ever found. People continue to look for their remains. Children can learn more at: Earhart Disappearance.
Lincoln Tunnel opened in 1937. It connects New Jersey with Manhattan and goes under the Hudson River. The tunnel is 1.5 miles long, and over 100,000 cars use it every day. Its original name was the Midtown Vehicular Tunnel, but officials named it after Abraham Lincoln.