#35: August 24-30

August 24 – 1814 – The Day the White House Caught Fire (and the Rain Saved It!)

Did you know that on August 24, 1814, the White House actually caught on fire? During the War of 1812, British soldiers marched into Washington, D.C., and set fire to many important buildings, including the President’s home! But here’s a fun fact: a giant rainstorm helped put out the flames. Some people even say a tornado may have swept through the city, chasing the British away. So, in a strange way, the weather became a hero and saved part of the White House from being completely destroyed! Listen to Episode 149: Dolley Madison Saves a Painting.

August 24 – 1912 – Alaska becomes U.S. territory

On August 24, 1912, Alaska officially became a U.S. territory! Back then, Alaska was still very wild, full of snowy mountains, giant glaciers, and animals like moose, bears, and bald eagles. Here’s a fun fact: Alaska has so much coastline that if you stretched it out, it would be longer than all the other U.S. states’ coastlines combined! That means lots of beaches, even though most of them are chilly and icy instead of sandy and warm. Listen to Episode 158: The Story of Togo and Balto (a story of two Alaskan dog-heroes!)

August 25 – 1916 – U.S. National Park Service founded

On August 25, 1916, the U.S. National Park Service was created to help take care of the most amazing natural places in America! That means giant canyons, tall mountains, bubbling geysers, and even beaches and caves are all protected so people can visit and enjoy them.Here’s a fun fact: there are more than 400 national park sites today, and they cover so much land that if you added it all up, it would be bigger than the entire state of New Mexico! Some parks even have wild bison, grizzly bears, and volcanoes. The National Park Service makes sure these incredible places stay safe so kids (and grown-ups!) can keep exploring them for generations to come. Listen to Episode 64: The Story of Theodor Roosevelt (who was crucial in establishing National Parks)

August 27 –1776 – Battle of Long Island 

On August 27, 1776, one of the first big battles of the American Revolution took place—the Battle of Long Island! George Washington and his Continental Army were trying to protect New York City from the powerful British forces. Even though Washington’s soldiers fought bravely, the British army was much larger and better trained, and the Americans had to retreat.Here’s a fun fact: during the retreat, a group of soldiers from Maryland, later called the “Maryland 400,” made a daring stand against the British so the rest of the army could escape. Their bravery helped save George Washington’s troops, who went on to fight many more battles for freedom. Without them, America’s story might have ended very differently! Listen to Episode 28: The Revolutionary War (from the world history point of view)

August 28 – 1963 – MLK delivers “I Have a Dream” speech

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. More than 250,000 people gathered to listen as he spoke about his dream of a world where people would be treated kindly and judged by their character, not by the color of their skin. His powerful words became one of the most important moments in the Civil Rights Movement. Here’s a fun fact: the crowd was so big that it was the largest peaceful protest in U.S. history at that time! People came from all over the country, riding buses, trains, and even walking long distances, just to hear Dr. King speak. His dream inspired millions, and his message is still remembered and celebrated today. Listen to Episode 17: In Honor of Black History Month (this episode is includes MLK’s story)