Finding the unexpected in the everyday.
July 29, 1882 São Thomé Lighthouse in the Brazilian municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes in what is now the state of Rio de Janeiro was officially inaugurated. At the time of this lighthouse’s debut, most of the territory comprising the present-day Federative Republic of Brazil was instead part of the Empire of Brazil. São Thomé... Continue Reading →
July 24, 2010 On the western Black Sea coast of Turkey (officially called the Republic of Türkiye), a two-month series of celebrations continued for the 150th anniversary of when a lighthouse in the district and municipality of Şile first went into service. The big commemorative effort on July 24 involved having this structure -- known... Continue Reading →
July 19, 1869 Masonry construction was completed on a new lighthouse in the Celtic Sea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. This took place nearly five years after William Douglass, the engineer supervising the project, laid the first stone of the structure. This lighthouse is located on a rock that is 18 nautical miles... Continue Reading →
On November 6, 2021, a U.S. Navy ship named after trailblazing public official and gay rights activist Harvey Milk was launched in San Diego Bay. USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-208) is part of the fleet of the John Lewis-class of underway replenishment oilers, which are operated by the Military Sealift Command to provide logistical support such... Continue Reading →
June 7, 1886 The fourth and current version of the facility serving as the base of operations for Star Boating Club was officially opened in New Zealand’s capital city of Wellington. The origins of Star Boating Club can be traced to 1866. It is the oldest rowing club in Wellington and one of the earliest... Continue Reading →
June 6, 1944 Widely remembered as D-Day all of these decades later, the Normandy landing operations proved to be a critical turning point in World War II. This Allied campaign was the largest seaborne invasion in world history and contributed significantly to the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany. A key means of transport for getting Allied troops... Continue Reading →
In 1977, Alma M. Grocki became the first woman from Hawaii to enter the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA). She was also part of this service academy’s second class of women. Grocki, who had been born in Honolulu as Alma Lau, recalled nearly four decades later what led her to pursue a naval career. “I decided... Continue Reading →
May 10, 1865 A foundation stone was laid for the third and current version of St Bees Lighthouse in northwestern England. This ceremony marked the start of construction on this structure on the headland known as St Bees Head, which overlooks the Irish Sea. Those on hand for the ceremony included Henry Norris, an engineer... Continue Reading →
May 2, 1906 Thomas F. Airis, who would become director of the District of Columbia’s Department of Highways and Traffic (a predecessor of the present-day District Department of Transportation) was born in the town of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He earned his degree in, civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin. In 1929, Airis joined the... Continue Reading →
April 17, 1896 James Rich Steers, who achieved widespread fame for his shipbuilding achievements, died at his home in New York City from what the New York Time characterized as “an attack of acute indigestion.” He was 88. Steers was born on October 15, 1808, in Plymouth, England. His father Henry Steers worked for the... Continue Reading →
Transportation History 