Cave Frostwork and Popcorn
Wind Cave National Park was established in 1903. The 33,500-acre park, located in South Dakota, hosts a mixed-grass prairie ecosystem with bison, elk, and prairie dogs. Below ground is a barometric wind cave with at least 137 miles of explored passages. The cave is unusually large and was formed by boxwork. Children can visit the park’s website and view some of its great multimedia presentations at: http://www.nps.gov/wica.
World Series held its first game in 1903. The Boston Americans played against the Pittsburgh Nationals (or Pirates). Over 16,000 fans came to the game in Boston. Boston won the first game, but they lost the best-of-nine series to Pittsburgh. Children can view some great photos of past World Series at: World Series.
Windshield Wiper Patent
Windshield wipers were patented by Mary Anderson of Birmingham, Alabama, in 1903. Her “window cleaner devices for electric cars and other vehicles” received patent number 743801. She invented the windshield wipers after she was a passenger on a trolley where the conductor could not easily clean the windshield of ice and snow. Children could view her patent at: Windshield Wiper Patent.
First Flight
Wilbur and Orville Wright flew the first airplane in 1903 near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Orville piloted the first successful flight. Then Wilbur had his turn. Each flight lasted less than a minute. The flights were results of years of experimentation. Children could read Russell Freedman’s The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane.