George Washington
George Washington was inaugurated President of the United States in 1789 in New York City. Idea: Present Presidents are inaugurated in January in Washington, District of Columbia. Children could try to figure out why George Washington’s inauguration was in April (instead of January) in New York City (instead of Washington, DC). They could also read a transcript of his speech at: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals/inaugtxt.html.
Sally Jane Priesand became the first woman rabbi. She was ordained in 1972 and became assistant rabbi for a New York City congregation about two months later. She became the rabbi of a New Jersey congregation in 1981 and eventually retired in 2006.
Museum of Modern Art, in New York City, hung Matisse’s Le Bateau upside down in 1961. The mistake was not found until December 3, 1961.
Radio show was broadcasted for the first time in 1910. Lee Deforest arranged for Enrico Caruso and other celebrities to perform the opera Cavellaria rusticana at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Only a few people owned the necessary equipment to receive the performance, but it did mark the beginning of radio communication.
Ballet was performed for the first time in America in 1827. The Bowery Theater in New York City hosted a performance of The Deserter by Madame Francisquy Hutin and her troupe. Idea: Invite a ballet student to visit the class and demonstrate some basic ballet moves.