#40 September 28 – October 4

September 28th, 1781 – Siege of Yorktown begins

In the fall of 1781, the Siege of Yorktown became one of the most important events of the American Revolution. General George Washington, together with French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau, surrounded the British army commanded by General Cornwallis in Yorktown, Virginia. The Americans and French soldiers worked day and night, digging trenches and setting up powerful cannons that blasted the British defenses. After three weeks of fighting and with no way to escape or get more supplies, Cornwallis finally surrendered. This victory at Yorktown was the last major battle of the war and cleared the way for America’s independence. Fun Fact: Some people living up to 30 miles away said they could hear the thunder of cannons during the siege! Listen to Episode 27: The American Revolution

September 28th, 1928 – Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin

On September 28, 1928, scientist Alexander Fleming made a discovery that would change medicine forever. While working in his London laboratory, he noticed something unusual in a petri dish where he had been growing bacteria. A type of greenish mold had appeared, and around it the bacteria were gone. Fleming realized that the mold, later named penicillin, was killing the bacteria. This was the world’s first true antibiotic, and it gave doctors a way to fight dangerous infections that had once been deadly. Penicillin has since saved millions of lives and is often called one of the greatest medical discoveries in history. Fun Fact: Fleming didn’t win the Nobel Prize for penicillin until 1945—17 years after his accidental discovery!

September 29th, 1789 – U.S. Congress creates the U.S. Army

On September 29, 1789, the brand-new U.S. Congress passed a law that officially created the United States Army. Although soldiers had already fought bravely during the Revolutionary War, this act made the Army a permanent part of the new nation’s government. At first, it was very small—only a few hundred men—whose main job was to guard the frontier and protect the country. Over time, the Army grew into one of the most important parts of America’s defense. Today, it stands as the oldest and largest branch of the U.S. military, with a history stretching back to that first decision by Congress. Fun Fact: When the U.S. Army was first created in 1789, it had fewer than 700 soldiers, compared to over 450,000 active-duty soldiers today!

October 4th, 1861 – Spying from the Sky: Lincoln’s Balloon Experiment

On October 4, 1861, during the early days of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln went to watch something brand new—a balloon experiment. At that time, the Union Army was testing whether hot air balloons could be used to spy on enemy troops from high above. The balloon, tied down with ropes, lifted observers into the sky so they could see far across the battlefield. Lincoln was curious about any invention that might give the Union an advantage, so he came to see the demonstration himself. These experiments led to the creation of the Union Army Balloon Corps, one of the first times air power was used in warfare. Fun Fact: The balloons were filled with hydrogen gas, and some of them could rise as high as 1,000 feet into the air! Listen to Episode 116: Civil War Submarines and Hot Air Balloons.

October 4th, 1927 – The Making of Mount Rushmore

On October 4, 1927, work began on carving the famous monument of Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum led a team of workers who blasted away rock with dynamite and carefully shaped the granite using drills and hammers. Over 14 years, they created the giant 60-foot faces of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The monument was built to celebrate the country’s history and growth, and today it is one of America’s most visited landmarks. Fun Fact: More than 450,000 tons of rock were removed to carve Mount Rushmore, but the rubble was simply left in a pile at the base of the mountain, where it still sits today!