Finding the unexpected in the everyday.
June 10, 1912 Just over five months after New Mexico left behind its longtime U.S. territorial status to become the 47th state, a broad range of bills recently passed by the state legislature still awaited approval or rejection by the governor. That day’s edition of the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper noted, “The first session... Continue Reading →
June 9, 1900 The steamboat Natoma was officially launched on Harvey’s Lake in northeastern Pennsylvania. The lake, which is one of the largest in Pennsylvania, had developed into a highly popular summer resort by the early 1890s. Steamboats were a major source of the appeal for those vacationing at the resort and the Natoma – a... Continue Reading →
June 5, 2003 Cardinal Greenways in east-central Indiana was designated a National Recreation Trail by U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton. This network of asphalt-paved trails encompasses 62 miles (100 kilometers) of an abandoned CSX railroad corridor between the cities of Marion and Richmond in the Hoosier State. Cardinal Greenways is Indiana’s longest span of trails for... Continue Reading →
June 3, 1958 After a delay of nearly six months, a critically needed delivery of structural steel finally arrived in north-central Montana for use in completing a bridge in that region of the state. This steel-girder bridge was being built across the section of the Missouri River located between the city of Malta in Phillips... Continue Reading →
June 1, 1854 The original Alcatraz Island Lighthouse in California’s San Francisco Bay began operations when it was first lit at sunset by head keeper Michael Cassin. The lighthouse was the first active one on the Pacific coast, and it resulted from the urgent need to safely guide the ever-growing number of vessels sailing through the... Continue Reading →
May 27, 2016 The final and easternmost section of the Goldsboro Bypass, a bypass route of U.S. Route 70 (US 70) in North Carolina, was officially dedicated. In its entirety, this bypass route covers a total of 21.7 miles (34.9 kilometers). The westernmost part of the route starts just west of North Carolina Highway 581... Continue Reading →
May 20, 1981 In north-central Alabama, a ceremony was held for the opening of a segment of Interstate 65 (I-65) located south of Birmingham. This 11.7-mile (11.8-kilometer) portion of I-65 had been built between the Birmingham suburbs of Alabaster and Hoover, and the debut of that link was welcomed with a great deal of fanfare.... Continue Reading →
May 13, 1976 A major milestone took place for a steel arch bridge being built over the New River Gorge in the southern region of West Virginia. This milestone was a “topping out” ceremony in which the final link for the 1,700-foot (518-meter) supporting arch for the bridge was installed. “Bridge Work Gap Filled,” read... Continue Reading →
May 11, 1927 An eight-wheeled motorbus that would earn both distinction and derision began its service as a transit vehicle in Montreal, Canada. The vehicle had been built by the New York-based Versare Car Company, a bus-and-trolley manufacturer established in 1925 to produce experimental heavy-duty motorbuses that were intended for city service. The founder of... Continue Reading →
May 6, 1970 The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) was established. The bill creating this department was signed into law by Pennsylvania Governor Raymond P. Shafer in a ceremony at his office in the State Capitol in Harrisburg. That legislative measure had enjoyed widespread support from both sides of the political aisle in the Pennsylvania... Continue Reading →
Transportation History 