Exxon Valdez Crashes, Causing one of the Worst Oil Spills in History
On this day in US history, the Exxon Valdez crashed into a reef, causing one of the worst oil spills in US history on March 24, 1989. An estimated 11…
Old Abe Dies in Fire at State Capitol
This week in Wisconsin history, the famous Civil War mascot for the Eau Claire infantry unit, Company C, passed away on March 26, 1881. During the Capitol fire of 1881,…
‘OK’ Officially becomes part of the US Vocabulary
On this day in U.S. history, the initials “O.K.” were first published in The Boston Morning on March 23, 1839. At the time, it was intended as an abbreviation of…
President FDR re-legalizes sale of alcohol
On this day in US history, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Beer and Wine Revenue Act on March 22, 1933. This would strike down the 18th Amendment as well…
Martin Luther King Jr begins march from Selma to Montgomery
On this day in US history, 3,200 demonstrators in Alabama, led by Martin Luther King Jr., began a historic march from Selma to Montgomery on March 21, 1965. Despite many…
The Republican Party is founded in Wisconsin
On this day in US history, former members of the Whig Party met to establish a new party in Ripon, Wisconsin. On March 20, 1854, the Republican Party was formed…
The War in Iraq Begins
On this day in US history, the United States, along with a coalition of forces mainly from the UK, initiated the war in Iraq on March 19, 2003. President Bush…
“Tri-State Tornado” becomes Deadliest in US History
On this day in US history, the worst tornado to ever blow through the country became the deadliest on March 18, 1925. Rolling through Missouri, Indiana, and southern Illinois, 695…
British Evacuate Boston
On this day in US history, British forces were forced to evacuate Boston after eight years of occupation on March 17, 1776. Due to the successful placement of fortifications and…
US Military Academy Established
On this day in US history, the United States Military Academy was founded by Congress with the intention of training and educating young men in military science on March 16,…
Reedsville Wins WIAA Basketball Tournament
This week in Wisconsin history, Reedsville High School, with an enrollment of only 87 students, won the WIAA state basketball tournament on March 16, 1946. With a population of just…
US Army launches K-9 Corps
On this day in US history, the US Army started training dogs for their new War Dog Program on March 13, 1942. Once established, well over a million dogs served…