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Negro Girls School
The Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls is opened by Mary McLeod Bethune in Daytona, Florida. Bethune is regarded as a leading contributor to the education of African-American students in the early 20th century. -
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt wins his first election for President after serving three years in the office due to the death of William McKinley. He defeat Democratic candidate Alton B. Parker. -
Las Vegas
The city of Las Vegas, Nevada is formed with the sale of one hundred and ten acres in the downtown area. -
Lewis and Clark Exposition
The "Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition" is opened in Portland, Oregon. The world's fair would host eighteen nations and three colonies, and close on October 15 with attendance of 1.7 million visiting its 402 acre site. -
San Francisco Earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake was estimated at 7.8 on the Richter scale. Its proximity to the epicenter of the San Andreas Fault and the subsequent fire that followed the quake and aftershocks left 478 reported death, although estimates in the future peg that figure at nearly 3,000. Between $350-$400 million in damages were sustained. -
FDA
The Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act is passed. -
First Trip
The first official trip abroad by a United States president occurs when Theodore Roosevelt leaves for a trip to inspect the progress in the construction of the Panama Canal. -
Native American Senator
The first Native American Senator, Charles Curtis, from Kansas, takes office. -
New Year's
The tradition of dropping a ball in New York's Times Square to signal the beginning of the New Year is inaugurated. -
Muir Woods National Monument
Muir Woods National Monument, named after conservationist John Muir, is added to the National Park System by a proclamation of President Theodore Roosevelt after the two hundred and ninety-five acres of coastal redwood forest is donated by William Kent. -
Grand Canyon
Roosevelt added the Grand Canyon Monument to the system. -
Pinnacle National Monument
President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed the Pinnacle National Forest of rock formations and caves as Pinnacles National Monument. -
Jewel Cave
he would continue the expansion of federally protected lands with Jewel Cave National Monument in southwest South Dakota. -
Wright Flyer
The first passenger flight on a plane occurs when Wilbur Wright escorts Charles W. Furnas in the Wright Flyer III at Huffman Prairie Flying Field in Dayton, Ohio. -
Model T
The first production Model T was built at the Ford plant in Detroit, Michigan. -
Election of 1908
William Howard Taft was elected president over William Jennings Bryan. -
Spanish-American War
The troops of the United States leave Cuba for the first time since the beginning of the Spanish-American War. -
National Monuments Continued
President William Howard Taft continues the designation of national monuments begin during the Roosevelt administration with the proclamation of Oregon Caves National Monument in southwest Oregon. -
Zion National Park
he continued the designations with the southwestern Utah lands known as Mukunyuweap that would become, ten years later, Zion National Park. -
Boy Scouts of America
On this date, the Boy Scouts of America was founded. -
Glacier National Park
The start of American domestic tourism occurred with the establishment of Glacier National Park in Montana. This park helped begin the "See America First" campaign to encourage United States tourists before and during World War I to visit the western states and territories. -
Representatives
The law establishing the number of United States representatives at 435 is passed. It would go into effect in 1913 after the 1912 elections. -
Girl Scouts
The American Girl Guides, renamed the Girl Scouts one year later, is formed. -
Sinking of the Titanic
