Lincoln Tunnel opened in 1937. It connects New Jersey with Manhattan and goes under the Hudson River. The tunnel is 1.5 miles long, and over 100,000 cars use it every day. Its original name was the Midtown Vehicular Tunnel, but officials named it after Abraham Lincoln.
Coelacanth, a species of fish scientists thought had been extinct for 65 million years, was found off the shores of Africa in 1938. Children could learn more by reading Fossil Fish Found Alive: Discovering the Coelacanth by Sally M. Walker. They could also learn more at: Coelacanth.
Colo
Colo was the first gorilla born in captivity in 1956 at the Columbus, Ohio, Zoo. At birth she weighed a little more than three pounds. She had three children, sixteen grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. She was the oldest gorilla in captivity until she died on January 17, 2017. Children could read Colo’s Story: the Life of One Grand Gorilla, by Nancy Roe Pimm. Children can view a terrific video about her at: Colo.
William Ellery (born Newport, Rhode Island, 1727; died Newport, Rhode Island, February 15, 1820) signed the Declaration of Independence, representing Rhode Island. He wanted to be a lawyer, but he had 16 children to support. Therefore, for many years he was a merchant. Finally he became wealthy enough to study law and then become a lawyer. During the Revolutionary War, the British destroyed Ellery’s home and most of Newport. After the war, he served in Congress and tried to abolish slavery. Children could learn more at: William Ellery.
Lady Bird Johnson
Claudia Alta Taylor (Lady Bird) Johnson (born Karnack, Texas, 1912; died Austin, Texas, July 11, 2007) was America’s First Lady from November 22, 1963 to January 20, 1969. She was the wife of Lyndon Baines Johnson, thirty-sixth president of the United States. She helped establish the Head Start program for preschool children, and she advocated for the environment. Children can visit a website at: Lady Bird Johnson. Mrs. Johnson wanted to eliminate many of the billboards along the highways. She felt the billboards detracted from nature’s beauty. Children could decide whether the billboards are unsightly or whether they help consumers make decisions. The First Lady organized vast expanses of wildflowers. Children could read Miss Lady Bird’s Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America, written by Kathi Appelt and illustrated by Joy Fisher Hein.
James Edward Oglethorpe (born London, England, 1696; died Cranham Hall, Essex, England, June 30, 1785) was one of the leading organizers of the Georgia colony. In England at that time debtors were imprisoned. His goal was to bring the debtors to Georgia and give them a fresh start. Colonists were able to obtain farms of 50 acres. He encouraged the farmers to seek indentured servants from England, thus giving more poor people a chance of a decent life. Because Georgia was situated between British South Carolina and Spanish Florida, the colony became quite important.
Jerry Pinkney (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1939; died Sleepy Hollow, New York, October 20, 2021) wrote and/or illustrated at least 200 books for children. He won an amazing amount of awards, including five Caldecott Honor Awards, five Coretta Scott King Awards, a Sydney Taylor Honor Award, and hosts of other medals and distinctions. He received the Caldecott Medal in 2010 for The Lion and the Mouse. Children could visit a website dedicated to him at: Jerry Pinkney and then have a Jerry Pinkney morning and read several of his works.
Giacomo Puccini (born Lucca, Italy, 1858; died Brussels, Belgium, November 29, 1924) was an opera composer. Two of his most famous operas are Tosca, created in 1900, and Madame Butterfly, completed in 1904.
William O. Steele (born Franklin, Tennessee, 1917; died Signal Mountain, Tennessee, June 25,1979) wrote 39 children’s books. His The Perilous Road received both the Jane Addams Award and a Newbery Honor Award in 1959.
“A Visit from Saint Nicholas” was published in 1823. Also known as “‘Twas the Night before Christmas,” the poem was at first published anonymously. However, most experts feel Clement Clarke Moore wrote it. Four handwritten copies of the poem exist. Today this poem is one of the most well known verses in the United States. It has been quoted or parodied numerous times. Children can read the book and examine the illustrations at: Project Gutenberg. Children can read more about the poem at: America’s Library.
Map of Nation’s Capital (Residence Act)
Maryland in 1788 donated ten square miles of land to the United States. This land became part of the District of Columbia. Our Founding Fathers wanted to establish a new capital, rather than use an existing city such as New York or Philadelphia. The Residence Act gave George Washington the authority to decide where to locate the new nation’s capital. The Maryland land was in about the middle of the country at that time. Children can view the documents that made the District of Columbia possible at: District of Columbia.
Jacquard loom was patented in 1801 by Joseph Marie Jacquard. This loom could easily weave very complex patterns. Jacquard used a series of punched cards to tell the loom what to do. This idea was adapted to instructions for early computers. Children could view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwozgRPLVC8 to see how the Jacquard loom worked and to view some early computer punch cards.
Bardeen, Shockley, and Brattain
Transistor was invented in 1947 by John Bardeen, William Shockley, and Walter Brattain at Bell Laboratories. They received the 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics for their creation. Children could go to: Transistor to read LOTS of information and view photos of transistors. Transistors made everything from radios to computers to factory equipment smaller, smarter, and more powerful.
Voyager Completing its Flight
Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager in 1986 made the first flight around the world without refueling. For 216 hours the Voyager flew, traveling over 26,000 miles. The plane lifted off from Edwards Air Force Base on December 14th. Because it was carrying so much fuel, it barely lifted off before it reached the end of the runway. Cramped quarters and frequent weather problems, including a typhoon, made piloting difficult. The plane and pilots returned to Edwards Air Force Base to thousands of spectators and reporters. The plane is now in the Air and Space Museum. Older children can learn more at: Voyager.
Avi (born Edward Irving Wortis in New York, New York, 1937) has written at least 80 books for children and teenagers. An extremely versatile writer, he can engage younger children as well as young adults, and his works include historical fiction, fantasy, and mysteries. He received a 1991 Newbery Honor Award for The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle and a 1992 Newbery Honor Award for Nothing but the Truth. His Crispin: The Cross of Lead received the 2003 Newbery Medal. Children can visit his excellent website at: Avi.
Rosetta Stone
Jean-Francois Champollion (born Figeac, France, 1790; died Paris, France, March 4, 1832) solved the mystery of Egyptian hieroglyphics. He and Thomas Young were both trying to be the first person to use the Rosetta Stone to decode hieroglyphics. Champollion won. Children can read Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphics, by James Rumford. They can also visit: Rosetta Stone to learn more about Champollion and the Rosetta Stone.
Keiko Kasza (born on a small island in the Sea of Japan, 1951) is a writer and illustrator. One of her books is A Mother for Choco. Other works include My Lucky Birthday and Finders Keepers. Children can visit her website at: Keiko Kasza.
Sarah Breedlove Walker (born Delta, Louisiana, 1867; died Irvington, New York, May 25, 1919) was one of the first female African American millionaires. Also known as Madame C. J. Walker, she was a philanthropist and an activist. Children could read Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker, written by Kathryn Lasky and illustrated by Nneka Bennett. They could also learn more at: Sarah Breedlove Walker.