Flights of Fancy
On this week in 1496 Leonardo da Vinci tested a flying machine…It “flew” straight down.
FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY
Here’s What Happened This Week …
There is so much history around the world that sometimes it is hard to keep up. We dive into a fun fact every week from all around the world to show just how amazing people are! Join us in our exploration and learn something new along the way.
Sign of The Times
On this week in 1878 the US Senate proposed female suffrage. But the 19th amendment, which codifies the right to vote regardless of sex, didnt pass until 1920.
SECOND WEEK OF JANUARY
Lima, Land-O-Llama
On this week in 1535 Francisco Pizarro founded the city of Lima in Peru.
THIRD WEEK OF JANUARY
Okay … Letter Rip!
On this week in 1673 marked the beginning of Postal service between New York & Boston.
FOURTH WEEK OF JANUARY
Shadowy Characters!
On this week in 1887 the first Groundhog’s Day was observed at Gobbler’s Knob, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY
Unleash the Astronaut!
On this week in 1984 American astronaut Bruce McCandless makes 1st untethered space walk.
SECOND WEEK OF FEBRUARY
I Bearly Believe It
On this week in 1903 the 1st Teddy Bear was introduced in America. It was made by Morris & Rose Michtom.
THIRD WEEK OF FEBRUARY
Financially Insecure
On this week in 2006 At least six people staged Britain’s biggest robbery ever, stealing £53m (about $92.5 million) from a Securitas depot in Tonbridge, Kent.
FOURTH WEEK OF FEBRUARY
Arresting Witch Face
On this week in 1692 Sarah Goode, Sarah Osborne, & Tituba arrested for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts
FIRST WEEK OF MARCH
On this week in 1819 Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, signed the Adams – Onis Treaty. Which ceded Florida to the United States in exchange for the US settling 5 million dollars worth of outstanding legal claims against the Spanish Crown.
FIRST WEEK OF MARCH
Bombshells in Bikini
On this week in 1946 Bikini Atoll islanders are evacuated by the US government to make way for a nuclear testing site.
SECOND WEEK OF MARCH
This week in 1930 Mahatma Gandhi and his followers begin a 200 mile march to the salt beds of Jalalpur.
SECOND WEEK OF MARCH
Emerald City?
On this week in 1962 marked the first time that the Chicago River was dyed green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day
THIRD WEEK OF MARCH
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place not in Ireland but in America. Records show that a St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17, 1601 in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida.
THIRD WEEK OF MARCH
shop green!
We Bet You Didn’t Know
On this week in 1931 Nevada legalized gambling!
FOURTH WEEK OF MARCH
On this week in 1784 Bangkok was abuzz as the Emerald Buddha was moved into its temple, Wat Phra Kaew, where it resides to this day.
FOURTH WEEK OF MARCH
The Branches of Government
On this week in 1912 the 1st Japanese cherry blossom trees were planted in Washington, D.C.
FIFTH WEEK OF MARCH
Speed Trap
On this day in 1988 Eddie Hill became the world’s first driver to cover the quarter mile in under 5 seconds.
FIRST WEEK OF APRIL
On this week a few years ago in 240 BC the first perihelion passage of Halley’s Comet was recorded. But back then I think it was just called “ Angry Sky Monster”
FIRST WEEK OF APRIL
shop our space maps
Caped Crusaders
On this week in 1811 the 1st US pacific coast colonists arrived at Washington Territory’s Cape Disappointment.
SECOND WEEK OF APRIL
On this week in 1872 the Jesse James Gang robbed a bank in Columbia, Kentucky. (1 person killed /$1,500 stolen)
SECOND WEEK OF APRIL
shop south africa maps
The United States’ First Home Office?
On this week in 1782 John Adams secured the Dutch Republic’s recognition of the United States as an independent government, and a house he purchased in The Hague, Netherlands became the first American embassy.
THIRD WEEK OF APRIL
On this week in 1872 the Jesse James Gang robbed a bank in Columbia, Kentucky. (1 person killed /$1,500 stolen)
THIRD WEEK OF APRIL
Ich Bin Ein Berliner?
On this week in 1990 West & East Germany agreed to merge currency & economies.
___
FOURTH WEEK OF APRIL
This week in 1906 an earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, shook the town of San Francisco. The quake lasted for less than one minute, but almost 80% of the city was toppled.
FOURTH WEEK OF APRIL
shop san francisco maps
On this week in 1990 NASA launched the Hubble Space Telescope into low earth orbit.
FIFTH WEEK OF APRIL
shop universe maps
mapo de facto
On this week in the 1940 people in the United States started celebrating “Cinco De Mayo” as a part of the Chicano movement. In the 1980’s beer companies capitalized on the celebratory nature of the day and began promoting the day.
Eventually Cinco De Mayo evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, first in areas with large Mexican-American populations.
Cinco De Mayo isn’t really celebrated in Mexico… Cinco De Mapo, however, is fast becoming one of Mexico’s #1 map based holidays.
FIRST WEEK OF MAY
This week in 1862 Mexican troops successfully repelled French soldiers at the Battle of Puebla. It was one of the few Mexican military victories during France’s short-lived colonization of Mexico.
FIRST WEEK OF MAY
shop mexico maps
get vertically flipped
On this week in 1976 The Revolution, the first steel roller coaster with a vertical flip, opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California.
SECOND WEEK OF MAY
On this week in 1893, Henri Desgrange, cyclist and founder of the Tour-de-France established the first world record for bicycle speed when he reached 21.95 miles per hour.
SECOND WEEK OF MAY
Been Around & Around
On this week in 1620 the 1st recorded sighting of a merry-go-round occurred at a fair in Philippopolis, Turkey.
THIRD WEEK OF MAY
This week in 1980 Mount St. Helens erupted blowing its top- leaving a massive crater; its summit is now some 1300 feet (400 meters) lower than before the eruption.
THIRD WEEK OF MAY
shop washington maps
All Tapped Out
On this week in 1844 Samuel Morse tapped out “What hath God Wrought” in the world’s first telegraph message:
.– …. .- – / …. .- – …. / –. — -.. / .– .-. — ..- –. …. –
FOURTH WEEK OF MAY
On this week in 1937 over 200,000 people celebrated the grand opening of the Golden Gate Bridge by crossing it on foot or on roller skates. Cars had to wait ‘til the next day.
FOURTH WEEK OF MAY
Shop California Maps
Cheers to #15!
On this week in 1792 Kentucky split from Virginia and was admitted to the Union as the 15th US state
FIRST WEEK OF JUNE
On this week in 1859: Big Ben rang out over the Houses of Parliament for the first time. This was also the week Queen Elizabeth II was formally crowned as the Queen of England in 1953.
FIRST WEEK OF JUNE
shop london maps
A Spainful Decision
During this week in 1494 Spain and Portugal signed the Treaty of Tordesillas, an agreement that divided the new world along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands. Portugal laid claim to land east of the line and Spain to the west.
SECOND WEEK OF JUNE
On this week in 1992, while at the Earth Summit, Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada proposed that June 8th be recognized as World Ocean Day – “World Oceans Day” was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008. The international day strives to foster public interest in the protection of the ocean and the sustainable management of its resources
SECOND WEEK OF JUNE
shop ocean maps
Yu-Kon Visit There
During this week in 1898 the Yukon Territory of Canada was established, and Dawson was chosen as its capital.
THIRD WEEK OF JUNE
On this week in 1777 The Continental Congress approved the Stars and Stripes as the first national flag of the United States, The official description was as follows: “The flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation.” The layout of the stars, however, was left undefined, and many patterns were used by flag makers.
THIRD WEEK OF JUNE
Shop large u.s. flags
Full of Hot Air
During this week in 1633 Galileo Galilei, under threat of execution, recanted his “heretical” position that the Earth orbited the Sun – a position that was at odds with the catholic church’s teachings (The Vatican apologized in Oct 1992 for how it handled this particular situation).
FOURTH WEEK OF JUNE
On this week in 2006 Pluto’s newly discovered moons are officially named Nix and Hydra.
FOURTH WEEK OF JUNE
Catsup To This Week’s Fact
During this week in 1820 the tomato was “proven” to be non-poisonous when Colonel Robert Gibbon ate one on the steps of a courthouse in Salem, New Jersey.
FIFTH WEEK OF JUNE
Make Potato Legal!
During this week in 1890 Idaho was admitted as
43rd US state in the Union.
FIRST WEEK OF JULY
On this week in 1919 The Treaty of Versailles, ending WWI and establishing the League of Nations, was signed in France
FIRST WEEK OF JULY
Start Making Cents
During this week in 1933 Congress passed the first
minimum wage law (33 cents per hour).
SECOND WEEK OF JULY
Buck, Clam, Bill, Note, Ducket, Benjamin …
On this week in 1785 US Congress unanimously resolved to name US currency the “dollar” and adopted decimal coinage
SECOND WEEK OF JULY
On this week in 1772, Captain James Cook began his 2nd voyage aboard the Resolution to the South Seas in search of “Terra Australis” (Latin: “Southern Land”)
THIRD WEEK OF JULY
I Can See My House From Here!
On this week in 1969 the Apollo 11 lunar module carrying Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the surface of the Moon; Aldrin and Armstrong walked on the moon- Michael Collins remained in orbit.
FOURTH WEEK OF JULY
SHOW MOON MAPS
Reminder to Water Your Plants 🍃
On this week in 1880 the first commercial hydroelectric power plant in the world began generating electricity at the Wolverine Chair Factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan
FIFTH WEEK OF JULY
On this week in 1492, Christopher Columbus sets sail on his first voyage with three ships, Santa María, Pinta, and Niña from Palos de la Frontera, Spain in search of the “Indies”.
FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST
On this week in 1965 Singapore separated from the Federation of Malaysia and gained its independence.
SECOND WEEK OF AUGUST
In this week in 1248 Construction of the new Cologne Cathedral began with the laying of the foundation stone by Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden – They finished it a few years later -(completed 1880)
THIRD WEEK OF AUGUST
SIZE MATTERS!
On this week in 2006 : The International Astronomical Union defined the term “planet” for the first time and demoted Pluto to the status of a “dwarf planet.” According to the new definition, there are currently eight planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) and four dwarf planets (Ceres, Pluto, Makemake and Eris) now known in our solar system.
FOURTH WEEK OF AUGUST
Houston – We Have a City!
On this week in 1836 The city that we now call Houston was founded by Augustus Chapman Allen and his brother John Kirby Allen.
FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER
It’s Wicked Awesome
On this week in 1630 Puritans founded the city of Boston!
SECOND WEEK OF SEPTEMBER
Spainful Break-Up
On this week in 1821: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras & Nicaragua declare their independence from the Spanish Empire via the Act of Independence of Central America
THIRD WEEK OF SEPTEMBER
This Totally Sucks
On this week in 1876 Melville Bissell of Grand Rapids, Michigan patented the 1st carpet sweeper. His cat was not happy about it
FOURTH WEEK OF SEPTEMBER
Choo Choo Choo on This Fact!
On this week in 1825 George Stephenson’s “Locomotion No. 1” was the 1st steam locomotive to carry passengers on a public rail line. This first commute took place on the Stockton & Darlington Railway in England
FIFTH WEEK OF SEPTEMBER
A Bone To Pick With You
On this week in 1915 the Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado & Utah was established.
FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER
This Fact is “On Point”
On this week in 1581 the 1st staged ballet, “Ballet Comique de la Reine”, was performed in Paris at the Hôtel de Bourbon, adjacent to the Louvre Palace
SECOND WEEK OF OCTOBER
..- ..-. — —-. .—- .—-
On this week in 1861 the First US transcontinental telegram was sent from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.
THIRD WEEK OF OCTOBER
Witch Magic is Best?
On this week in 1856 French Magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin performed for Algerian Marabouts in Algeria to convince them that French magic is the stronger than theirs
FOURTH WEEK OF OCTOBER
Might As Well Take Two!
On this week in 1889 North Dakota became the 39th & South Dakota became the 40th state in the United States.
FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER
SHHH! I’m Reading the MapDrop!
On this week in 1731 Benjamin Franklin opened the first library in the North American colonies. Its name-The Library Company of Philadelphia.
SECOND WEEK OF NOVEMBER
Now This Ring You Have To See!
On this week in 1980 US spacecraft Voyager 1 sent back the 1st close-up pictures of Saturn during its planetary fly-by.
THIRD WEEK OF NOVEMBER
“First in Flight”…12th in Statehood!
On this week in 1789 North Carolina, home of the Map Shop, ratified the constitution and became 12th US state.
FOURTH WEEK OF NOVEMBER
Fill ‘Er Up
On this week in 1913 Gulf Refining Company opened the nation’s first drive-in service station at the corner of Baum Boulevard and St. Clair Street in Pittsburgh.
FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER
It’s History Bro
On this week in 1776 the First US fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa, was formed at William & Mary College.
SECOND WEEK OF DECEMBER
Historical Clippings
On this week in 1928 Clip-on tie designed … We’re Knot kidding!
THIRD WEEK OF DECEMBER
Santa Was First!
On this week in 1909 University of Copenhagen rejected American Explorer Frederick A Cook’s claim that he was 1st to the North Pole.
FOURTH WEEK OF DECEMBER
What Are The Odds?
On this week in 1946 The Flamingo Hotel & Casino, the first “modern style” casino officially opened in Las Vegas, NV.
FIFTH WEEK OF DECEMBER
