#18: April 27 – May 3

April 30, 1789 – Washington’s Inauguration
Standing on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, George Washington placed his hand on a Bible and took the very first presidential oath, setting every tradition that would follow. Crowds lining Wall Street erupted in cheers as cannons boomed from the harbor.
Fun fact: Washington wore a simple brown homespun suit to show he was a citizen-leader, not a king in fancy clothes! Listen to Episode 108: Young George Washington

April 30, 1803 – The Louisiana Purchase
On this day the United States bought 828,000 square miles of land from France for $15 million—about three cents an acre! The deal doubled the young nation overnight, stretching from the Mississippi River all the way to the Rocky Mountains and opening the door for explorers like Lewis and Clark.
Fun fact: The new territory was so huge it would later become part or all of 15 different states. Listen to Episode 79: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark

April 30, 1939 – New York World’s Fair Opens
Billed as “The World of Tomorrow,” the 1939 fair dazzled visitors with gadgets such as early television sets, color photography, and even a robot that could smoke a cigar. Over two years, more than 44 million people marveled at futuristic pavilions like the Trylon and Perisphere towers.
Fun fact: President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s opening-day speech became the first U.S. presidential address ever broadcast on live TV! The 1939 World’s Fair wasn’t the first World Fair held in America. Listen to the story of the 1893 World Fair here in Episode 6: The Great Big Wheel

May 1, 1931 – Empire State Building Debuts
Rising 1,250 feet above Midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building officially opened after just 410 days of construction—an engineering race won during the Great Depression. It reigned as the world’s tallest skyscraper for nearly 40 years and quickly became a symbol of American optimism.
Fun fact: Lightning strikes the tower about 25 times each year, but its steel frame safely channels the bolts to the ground.

May 1, 1941 – Birth of Cheerios
General Mills rolled out a new oat cereal called “Cheerioats,” using a puffing gun to shoot tiny oat dough pieces into their famous O-shape. Kids (and parents) loved the crunchy rings, so the company shortened the name to “Cheerios” in 1945.
Fun fact: Lining up Cheerios edge-to-edge from the first batch would have stretched more than five miles—enough to circle about 90 football fields! I love cereal so much I made an episode all about its history! Listen to Episode 58: What’s in YOUR bowl?