Here’s one of the most famous paintings in the U.S. Capitol that portrays 

September 17th, 1787 and the major players, including George Washington

Celebrate the signing of the Constitution and the freedoms we enjoy as Americans

"Old Enough to Fight, Old Enough to Vote:" The WWII Roots of the 26th Amendment

 (which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18)

'It's time to clear the path to equality': Senate revisits Equal Rights Amendment after 40 years

Senate fails to advance Equal Rights Amendment resolution

Today honors America’s founding document – the 

“It is at all times difficult to draw with precision the line between those rights which must be surrendered, and those which may be preserved ...”

George Washington submitting the final draft of the Constitution to the Continental Congress, Sept. 17, 1787. He highlighted the challenge of bringing states together with different 

 and the spirit of friendship for the final product.

 55 delegates attended the Convention, but only 39 signed.

 Written during four-month Convention (May 25 – 

~ divided power between the states with a federal government with executive, judicial, & legislative branches (Library of Congress).

 Congress moved the date to Sept. 17th, naming it “

 Congress designated Sept. 17th *BOTH* “

” to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution and 

“recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens.”

The first ten amendments of the Constitution are known as the the 

 – most recently in 1992, adding one of the original amendments that didn’t make the cut in 1791 regarding federal lawmaker pay.

. In 1933, the 21st Amendment repealed the 18th Amendment, putting an end to Prohibition.

THE NEXT AMENDMENT? In 2023, the Senate held a hearing on the Equal Rights Amendment – the first in the Senate in since 1984. The amendment, passed by Congress in 1972, would have made gender equality a fundamental right, but ultimately, it has not been added to the Constitution. See our source page to learn more.

On This Day

On This Day: U.S. Constitution Signed 

H.R.14, An Act to make The Star-Spangled Banner the national anthem of the United States of America, April 21, 1930

Short History of The Star Spangled Banner

From the archives: History of the national anthem in sports

The backstory story of the song that became an anthem, as we mark the day of 

"the Rocket’s red glare, the Bombs bursting in air"

On the evening of September 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key watched from a ship as a 25-hour battle between British and American forces took place. 

“mother earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone.”

He assumed the British would win but instead woke up to see the American flag waving.

The experience inspired him to write lyrics that were later set to music and published under the name, 

"The Star-Spangled Banner" quickly became a patriotic song, played alongside other songs such as "Yankee Doodle."

It became "official" in 1931 when President Hoover made it the national anthem by law. 

 Some critics believed the tune to be too similar to the theme song of the Society of Anacreon — a gentlemen's club that listened to 

 The group's theme song included lyrics referring to love and alcohol. Separately, critics in the 1900s said it was ill-suited for the normal vocal range.

Why does "The Star-Spangled Banner" play before major sporting events? 

During WWI at the 1918 World Series (the Chicago Cubs vs. Boston Red Socks), "The Star-Spangled Banner" was played impromptu during the seventh-inning stretch, causing a surge of national pride amidst a challenging time (a year of war and pandemic!). The Red Sox later played the song in honor of wounded soldiers at their games. Soon "The Star-Spangled Banner" was regularly played before baseball games and a tradition was born. Other sports soon followed. 

OTD: Star-Spangled Banner Inspired

 on Labor Day: Here’s a more complete background if you're looking to learn more: 

Why We Can’t Wear White After Labor Day

Labor Daze – Pride, Chaos and Kegs on Labor's First 'Day'

10 fascinating facts about the Labor Day holiday

From origins (parades & kegs) to traditions (wearing white or not), we take a closer look at this federal holiday. 

“Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America's strength, prosperity, and well-being.”

The holiday’s founder is debated, but labor unions advocated for the celebration many years before the movement gained steam.

 First celebrated as a local/state holiday. The first Labor Day parade took place in NYC on Sept. 5, 1882. ~23 states celebrated it before it became a federal holiday.

 President Grover Cleveland made it a federal holiday; the House Committee on Labor's report on the legislation stated that honoring work with a national holiday will ensure 

“that the nobility of labor [will] be maintained."

“Lager beer kegs … mounted in every conceivable place.”

One description of the first Labor Day Parade in New York City, which took place in 1882. Some ten to twenty thousand workers, both women and men, were present to celebrate their trades. 

"The windows and roofs and even the lamp posts and awning frames were occupied by persons anxious to get a good view of the first parade in New York of workingmen of all trades united in one organization."

 The first Labor Day parade closed with speeches, cigars, and (ahem) beverages.

“Of course you can wear white after Labor Day, and it makes perfect sense to do so in climates where September’s temperatures are hardly fall-like. … The true interpretation is ‘wear what’s appropriate—for the weather, the season, or the occasion.'”

The Emily Post Institute's take on the "No White after Labor Day" rule. The rule's origins aren't entirely clear, but it likely originated among wealthy urban dwellers in the early 1900s.

2023 marks the 129th year Labor Day will be celebrated as a federal holiday. It's one of only twelve – and the last one established in the 19th century. The Congressional Research Service notes,

 "Federal holidays have been created for a number of reasons ... 

each holiday was designed to emphasize a particular aspect of American heritage or to celebrate an event in American history

Some believe the federal government should make Election Day a federal holiday.

Now You Know

Labor Day 2023

Picture: downloaded from US Dept. of Defense website: https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Photos/igphoto/2001522010/ 

The Purple Heart – The Story of America’s Oldest Military Decoration and Some Soldier Recipients

9 Things You Need to Know About the Purple Heart Medal

For more about the Presidential Medal of Freedom and this year's recipients 

The history of the nation's oldest military award ... including how it disappeared for over a century and then made a comeback to what we know it as today.

"The General ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear … over his left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth …"

General George Washington on August 7, 1782. Washington, who called it the 

, wanted to boost the morale of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. This honor was unique because it was available for "common soldiers," unlike others historically most intended for officers, royalty, etc.

 Spied on British troops in NYC and provided American forces with valuable intelligence. 

 Heroic actions at the Siege of Yorktown.

Bravery displayed during two raids against British forces on Long Island. 

Gen. Washington awarded a cloth purple heart to the three sergeants; the honor then went dormant. For about 150 years, no one else received it.

Throughout most of WWI, the only U.S. military medal was the Medal of Honor. 

Other countries offered a variety of awards for their troops; U.S. officials began brainstorming additional awards. 

: U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Douglas MacArthur re-established the Badge of Military Merit & renamed it the "Purple Heart." 

"A wound, which necessitates treatment by a medical officer ..."

 The Purple Heart is extended to service members beyond the U.S. Army, and includes not only those injured but also those killed in action.

 were presented to men and women wounded or killed during WWII.

 remained after WWII as manufacturers tried to anticipate needed supply. Leftover medals were distributed during later wars, such as Korea, Vietnam, and beyond.

The Purple Heart was re-introduced by Gen. MacArthur on February 22, 1932  — the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth. 

Military members can receive the award multiple times if they are wounded more than once. Curry Haynes, who served in the Vietnam War, received 10 Purple Hearts for multiple injuries endured on two separate occasions. He passed away in July 2017. 

Purple Heart OTD 

Today in History – July 23, The Ice Cream Cone

Ice Cream Cone is Popularized at St. Louis World's Fair

On this day more than a century ago, a mysterious (and delightful) invention was born: The Ice Cream Cone. 

No one knows with 100% certainty who invented the ice cream cone. 

FOR YEARS, however, the commonly-believed date for its founding in the United States has been 

One potential inventor? An original foodie, Charles E. Menches, who reportedly thought of the idea at the 1904 St. Louis Fair. 

A twist? Others who claim to have invented the ice cream cone *also* appeared at the 1904 St. Louis Fair.

"It is from the time of the Fair that edible 'cornucopia,' a cone made from a rolled waffle, vaulted into popularity in the United States."

The Library of Congress. One story of the ice cream cone's founding goes: Menches observed girls using baked goods as a serving bowl for ice cream. He took a cake (some say a waffle), rolled it around his finger, and filled it with ice cream. 

An Italian patented an ice cream cone concept in 1903, but it described

 the Library of Congress explains.  Brothers and cooks Charles and Frank Menches also claim to invent the hamburger. 

According to the International Dairy Foods Association, 

“The average American eats roughly 20 pounds of ice cream each year, or about 4 gallons." 

Read more about the heated controversy over "who owns the cone" on our source page.

On This day: Ice Cream Cone

“Give me the steady, uniform, unshaken security of constitutional freedom. Give me the right to be tried by a jury of my own neighbors, and to be taxed by my own representatives only. What will become of the law and courts of justice without this? The shadow may remain, but the substance will be gone. I would die to preserve the law upon a solid foundation; but take away liberty, and the foundation is destroyed.” — Alexander Hamilton

Library of Congress: Benjamin Moore’s account of events

National Archives: From Alexander Hamilton to Aaron Burr, 20 June 1804 

Library of Congress: Hamilton's correspondence with Aaron Burr and an account of the duel by William P. Van Ness

National Archives: Letter from Alexander Hamilton to his wife, Elizabeth, the night before his duel with Aaron Burr

Who Lives, Who Dies,
Who Tells The Story.

: Aaron Burr was vice president of the United States under President Thomas Jefferson. Alexander Hamilton was a “Founding Father,” the first U.S. treasury secretary, and a powerful political figure. Both were veterans of the Revolutionary War.

: A duel. Dueling was technically illegal in both New York and New Jersey, but New Jersey had a reputation for more leniency.

: Weehawken, New Jersey (across the Hudson River from New York City) in the early morning hours of July 11, 1804.

: Hamilton and Burr left New York City by boats from separate docks at 5 a.m., each rowed by four men across the Hudson River.

No one knows exactly what led to the duel.

Over the years, their political differences put them on a collision course. Hamilton supported Jefferson in the election of 1800 (when Jefferson defeated Burr for the presidency), and also supported Burr’s opponent for NY governor.

According to a June 1804 letter from Hamilton to Burr, Burr had asked Hamilton whether he had in fact made disparaging remarks about Burr, and sought an explanation or denial. Hamilton wrote in response that he could neither confirm nor deny the remarks.

“But you had rather I should die innocent than live guilty … God’s Will be done. The will of a merciful God must be good.”

Alexander Hamilton in a letter to his wife, Elizabeth (Eliza), the night before his duel to Aaron Burr – in which he insinuates he doesn’t want to kill Burr. Conflicting accounts exist of who shot first and whether Hamilton missed on purpose.

"... I have no ill will against Col. Burr. I met him with a fixed resolution to do him no harm. I forgive all that happened."

Episcopal bishop of New York Benjamin Moore wrote an account of the evening of July 12, 1804, relaying what Hamilton said before he died at 2 o'clock that afternoon. Moore delivered communion to Hamilton before his death.

“Let those who are disposed to justify the practice of duelling, be induced, by this simple narrative, to view with abhorrence that custom which has occasioned in irreparable loss to a worthy and most afflicted family: which has deprived his friends of a beloved companion, his profession of one of its brightest ornaments, and his country of a great statesman and a real patriot.”

Burr continued to serve as the United States' third vice president until 1805. In 1807, he was tried and acquitted of treason. More than 200 years later, the Broadway musical "Hamilton" put the two men back into the spotlight again in their former home of New York City.

The play debuted nearly eight years ago and is currently still showing. Across the 41 Broadway theatre's in NY, there have been a total of 2,650 "Hamilton" performances (and counting).

On This Day: Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr Duel 

During the height of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln turns his gaze westward, granting Yosemite Valley to California — with specific orders to preserve it for future generations of Americans.

“I have seen persons of emotional temperament stand with tearful eyes, spellbound and dumb with awe, as they got their first view of the Valley from Inspiration Point, overwhelmed in the sudden presence of the unspeakable, stupendous grandeur.”

The first guardian of the Yosemite Grant, Galen Clark, helped oversee the land known later as Yosemite National Park. Yosemite was the name of the local Native American tribe in the area.

The Gold Rush led to conflict between settlers and Native American tribes.

A “Yosemite Board of Commissioners” was named to both preserve the land and make it accessible for recreation.

1865: The man responsible for designing NYC’s Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted, filed a report on Yosemite Valley & the nearby “Big Tree Grove” of giant sequoia trees, raising concerns about how visitors impact the area.

“Nearly all the park is a profound solitude. Yet it is full of charming company, full of God’s thoughts, a place of peace and safety amid the most exalted grandeur and eager enthusiastic action, a new song, a place of beginnings abounding in first lessons on life, mountain-building, eternal, invincible, unbreakable order; with sermons in stones, storms, trees, flowers, and animals brimful of humanity.”

By the 1870s, concerns flourished over whether too many visitors were impacting Yosemite. Muir was one of the many voices who argued (successfully) for Yosemite to become a national park in 1890 — the 3rd in the nation after Yellowstone & Sequoia. However, Yosemite Valley wasn't integrated into the park until 1906.

In 1900, Yosemite saw its 1st automobile; for years, debates swirled over whether cars should be allowed into the park. At first, visitors who entered Yosemite Valley via car had to park after entering and couldn't use their cars until departure. As fewer people arrived by rail, the park eased up car regulations & built more roads.

OTD In 1864 Yosemite Valley Is Granted To California 

Outbreaks Associated with Untreated Recreational Water — United States, 2000–2014

NPR: You Could Save A Child From Drowning This Summer. Here's How

Lake Hopatcong boaters rescue swimmers on Fourth of July Weekend

As we approach the deadliest month for drowning in the United States, here's why you should be extra careful in the water during this time of year. 

“… a purely accidental and tragic incident.”

The Tampa Police Department in a statement about the 2-year-old daughter of Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett, who drowned in a family swimming pool. Around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 30, officers responded to a call that the child had fallen into the pool. The child was taken to the hospital, however, was later pronounced dead.

 ages 1 to 4 (other than birth defects) and a leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14.

#5 cause of preventable injury-related deaths.

 is involved in up to 70% of drowning deaths.

Each year, there are approx. 4,000 fatal drownings and 8,000+ nonfatal drownings.

From 2000 to 2014, there were 140 reported water-associated outbreaks linked to fresh / marine waters (lakes, rivers, oceans). 

The majority of the outbreaks started during the summer months, with nearly 

Outbreaks caused nearly 5,000 illnesses and two fatalities.

A few water safety tips to keep in mind this summer: 

Limit alcohol intake or avoid it all together; take CPR lessons and enroll children in swim lessons; make sure weak swimmers, children and boaters wear life jackets; closely supervise children when they are in or near water, and stay within an arm's length of children who are weak swimmers. 

To minimize your risk of exposure to water-associated diseases:

 Pay attention to advisory warnings and stay away from smelly or scummy waters. 

what to know

What To Know: Water Safety 

James Smithson passes away, putting in motion a surprising story of how this British scientist — who never set foot in the U.S. — funded one of America's most famous museums and research facilities: the Smithsonian Institution.

Born in 1765 in Paris as an illegitimate child. His mother was a widow and reportedly a descendent of King Henry VII; his father was a married, wealthy duke. 

He excelled in the sciences from a young age & had a particular interest in chemistry. 

He immersed himself in the scientific communities of London & Paris, publishing 27 papers ranging from mineral analyses to methods for making a better cup of coffee. 

Smithson dedicated his life to science, incl. its accessibility & its application in everyday life. 

1826: As Smithson got older and sensed his health worsening, he traveled to London to write his will. 

He left his estate to his nephew, who was in his early 20s — adding that if his nephew died without an heir, his estate would go to the U.S. in order to fund the development of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. 

Smithson died three years after writing his will. His nephew died six years later — without an heir. 

"... to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an 

establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.

The clause in Smithson's will. The estate was valued at more than $500,000 (more than $3 million in today's dollars) & was awarded to the U.S. in 1838. Congress debated for eight years on what to do with the money before reaching an agreement in 1846, when Pres. James Polk signed legislation establishing the Smithsonian Institution as a series of museums & research facilities. 

Consists of 21 museums (two of which are in development), a zoo, & 9 research facilities. 

The Smithsonian is home to approx. 155 million objects, works of art, & specimens. Nearly 146 million are scientific specimens at the National Museum of Natural History. 

The annual budget for fiscal year 2023 is about $1.14 billion, over 60% of which is federally funded. 

Items on display are wide-ranging, including Dorothy's famous "Ruby Slippers" & a jar of pickled woolly mammoth flesh. 

James Smithson passed away on this day in 1829. His unexpected endowment resulted in one of the world's most well-known museums... but *why* he did it still remains a mystery. Some believe his donation was intended to be a retaliation against the rigid scientific community of England; others think it served as a way to make his name known after being claimed illegitimate as a child. It's also thought to reflect his passion for democracy and access to education. 

The Smithsonian Institute: The Backstory. 

https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/june-25/

Rosalind Walter *first* inspired female patriotism during WWII (and beyond).

Born in 1924, she grew up in Long Island & Connecticut attending prep schools.

At 19, she began working the night shift as a riveter (drilling fasteners) on WWII fighter planes at a factory.

To establish how much women should get paid, the factory timed Roz while she worked. She broke all the men's records, resulting in equal pay for men & women in the factory.

In 1942, two men wrote a song called “Rosie the Riveter” after an article highlighting her work was published.

That little girl will do more than a male will do

From the 1942 song "Rosie the Riveter.”

 attempted to depict “Rosie The Riveter” as a way to recruit American women to traditionally male jobs due to a wartime labor shortage.

* associate with “Rosie The Riveter” (1943 “We Can Do It!” poster) was NOT inspired by Roz, but by another woman working in a factory during WWII.

Another popular WWII "Rosie The Riveter" poster was painted by Norman Rockwell. It depicted a 19-year-old phone operator holding a rivet gun & eating a sandwich.

The wartime image of "Rosie The Riveter" was only used for a few weeks by a private company in 1942 but gained popularity in the 1980s.

Roz passed away three years ago, at 95 years old. She was a lifelong philanthropist and well known for her support of public programming. She was the largest individual supporter of NYC's local PBS station.

Rosie The Riveter's Birthday 

Why June 19, 1865 marks the end of slavery in America ... more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

What to know about the 12th federal holiday.

1619: Commonly marked as the start of the African slave trade in the British colonies; the practice spread swiftly throughout all 13 colonies.

By 1804, all the Northern states had voted to abolish slavery, but it still persisted in the North well into the 19th century since many laws took a gradual approach.

 Pres. Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which states “

all persons held as slaves … henceforward shall be free.”

Pres. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring slaves *in rebelling Confederate states* (not Union-loyal slave states) to be free & allowed them to join the U.S. military, effective Jan. 1863.

However, the 10 states weren’t under Union control — so it couldn’t be enforced.

 Congress passed the 13th Amendment, which states that “

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude … shall exist within the United States ..

Adopted in Dec. 1865 after the required three-fourths of the states ratified it.

 Due to a clerical error, Mississippi didn’t ratify the 13th Amendment until 2013!

Two months after the end of the Civil War, a Union general & troops arrived in Galveston, TX to announce to the people of Texas that both slavery and the war had ended.

Although it was 2-1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, slavery had persisted in Texas and other Southern states since they hadn't considered themselves under U.S. authority during the war.

While slavery in the U.S. didn’t end swiftly, June 19 — also known as “Emancipation Day” — is observed as its official end.

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor…”

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger (June 19, 1865). African Americans began celebrating Emancipation Day on June 19, 1866. In 1980, Texas became the first state to celebrate it.

Juneteenth has risen in national prominence in recent years amid a reignited conversation about race in America. It became a federal holiday in 2021 when Congress voted affirmatively and Pres. Biden signed the bill into law, officially making it "Juneteenth National Independence Day."

 On Saturday, the National Archives announced that the Emancipation Proclamation will be placed on permanent display inside of the Rotunda of the National Archives Building alongside other foundational documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Juneteenth 2023 

Father’s Day Becomes A National Holiday

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