#33: August 10-16

August 10th, 1821 – Missouri Joins the United States

On August 10, 1821, Missouri became the 24th state in the United States! Back then, America was still growing, and Missouri was right in the middle of it all. Because it’s located in the center of the country, Missouri became known as “The Gateway to the West,” a place where many pioneers started their journey to explore new lands. Fun Fact: Missouri is home to the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, which is as tall as 63 giraffes stacked on top of each other! It’s the tallest man-made monument in the whole country and was built to celebrate the brave explorers and settlers who helped shape America.

August 10th, 1846 – The Smithsonian Institution Was Established

On August 10, 1846, the Smithsonian Institution was created in Washington, D.C. It was started with money from a British scientist named James Smithsonian, who wanted to help people learn more about the world. Today, it’s one of the coolest places to explore science, history, and art. Fun Fact: The Smithsonian includes the National Zoo—and it’s one of the few places in the U.S. where you can see giant pandas!

August 12th, 1877 – Thomas Edison Invents the Phonograph

On August 12, 1877, Thomas Edison invented the phonograph—the very first machine that could record and play back sound! Before this amazing invention, there was no way to listen to music or voices unless someone was performing live. Edison’s phonograph used a needle and a spinning cylinder to capture sound, making it the great-great-grandparent of today’s music players. Fun Fact: The first thing Edison recorded on the phonograph was himself reciting “Mary Had a Little Lamb” Listen to Episode 112: The Brilliant Thomas Edison

August 12th, 1908 – The First Model T Car Is Built

On August 12, 1908, Henry Ford built the very first Model T car at his factory in Detroit, Michigan. This car changed the way people traveled, making it easier and more affordable for families to own a car for the first time. The Model T was strong, simple, and perfect for all kinds of roads—especially the bumpy ones back then! Fun Fact: The Model T was nicknamed the “Tin Lizzie” and could only go up to about 45 miles per hour—that’s slower than most cars on the highway today. Listen to Episode 20: A Visit to Abandoned Places (3) (The story of Henry Ford’s South American Rubber Dream)

August 15th, 1914 – The Panama Canal Officially Opened

On August 15, 1914, the Panama Canal opened and changed the way ships traveled around the world. Instead of sailing all the way around South America, ships could now take a shortcut through the canal in Central America, saving time and money. It took 10 years to build and was one of the biggest construction projects in history! Fun Fact: The Panama Canal has giant doors called “locks” that lift and lower ships like an elevator—helping them travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.