America is defined by its historical events. While well-known, these iconic events are accompanied by lesser-known yet no less fascinating side notes to American history books.
1) The War Department Saved Abraham Lincoln’s Hat
After Lincoln’s assassination at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865, the War Department preserved his hat, among other personal items left behind. With Mary Lincoln’s permission, the hat eventually ended up at the Smithsonian Institution in 1867. Due to the excitement, the hat was hidden away in the basement for years until it went on exhibition in 1893.
2) The Donner Party and the Washoe
Everyone knows the tragic story of the Donner Party in the deadly winter of 1846-1847. A combination of mistakes and unfortunate circumstances ended with the expedition’s families stranded in the frigid Sierra Nevada mountains. It didn’t have to be so, however, as the local Washoe people reached out to help. Multiple times they brought food for the Donner Party, including deer, fish, and potatoes. The Donner Party responded with gunshots, even killing one Washoe man.
3) The Punt Gun Spurred Conservation Laws
The punt gun may be the most instantly ridiculous piece of firearm technology many people will ever see. It’s a 10-foot-long, 100-pound, muzzle-loaded monster designed to annihilate water fowl.
Too monstrous to manually hold and aim, the punt gun was usually mounted on a boat (hence its name), to be fired at a “mass of migratory waterfowl.” It could bring down tens of birds with its two pounds of shot per blast. It unsurprisingly devastated waterfowl populations, partially leading to the adoption of protection initiatives.
4) Lewis and Clark’s Pneumatic Guns
The Girandoni air rifle used pneumatics (compressed air) to fire rounds. It weighed 10 pounds, was 4-feet-long, and loaded with 22 lead balls that could be quickly discharged. Plus, the Girandoni was more accurate than muskets, and did not produce thick smoke.
Such a gun was instrumental in helping the Lewis and Clark Expedition avoid violent confrontations throughout their trailblazing journey. In addition to handing out gifts, when the expedition met new groups of Native Americans, they demonstrated these thunderous weapons to show the air rifle’s might as a deterrent.
5) Civilian spectators at Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major engagement of the Civil War. Fascinated by the prospect, multitudes of civilians trotted out to watch the battle from what they felt was a safe distance. Instead, they ended up in the way of the retreating Union Army.
The civilians came in all sorts of vehicles, including fancy carriages and simple hacks, and some on foot. Some made the 7-hour journey from Washington with picnic baskets, while others used the opportunity to sell goods.
6) A Late-Night Ambush was America’s First Revolutionary Victory
When Ethan Allen, his Green Mountain Boys, and Benedict Arnold captured Fort Ticonderoga via a late-night sneak attack, it exemplified the hardiness and tact of American soldiers.
Capturing Fort Ticonderoga on May 10, 1775, gave the Americans their first victory of the Revolutionary War. It also opened up an invaluable corridor to Canada and supplied the poorly equipped army with advanced weaponry, including the big guns used to besiege the British troops occupying Boston, driving the British from Beantown in 1776.
7) The Dust Bowl’s Static Electricity
The Dust Bowl of the 1930s was a terrifying time for farmers and families living on the prairies. Skies darkened with dust, crops died, drought took over, and families lost everything.
Equally hellish but much lesser known is the static electricity. The dust storms caused massive electric buildup that leapt like blue flames from fence posts. An innocent handshake could generate a shock strong enough to knock people over.
8) WWII led to the Creation of a Glass 1-Cent Piece
Many materials were rationed or repurposed during World War II, leading to the creation of a glass cent. During that time, the 1-cent piece was made of copper, and this metal was needed for ammunition.
The Mint experimented with different alloys, yet the most interesting alternative coin was made by a glass company from Tennessee. The company made a number of experimental glass coins, but it’s unknown how many were made, so they’re now extremely rare.
9) The Loss of Hetch Hetchy Helped Spur Environmentalism
America creating and protecting its national and state parks was a revolution in terms of ideas, politics, and legislature. But this major win also included a loss—the loss of Hetch Hetchy.
Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872, and Yosemite in 1890. But Yosemite lost its beautiful Hetch Hetchy valley to a damming project completed in 1918. The O’Shaughnessy Dam completely flooded the beautiful valley by 1923, giving it the “potential to store 117 billion gallons of pure Sierra snowmelt” for San Francisco.
10) Great Depression Hoovervilles Grew Huge
During the Great Depression, joblessness created more and more homelessness, inspiring the creation of Hoovervilles across the United States.
Some of these grew to be immense: Seattle’s biggest encompassed nine acres of public land, 1,200 residents, and ten years (from 1931 to 1941). This Hooverville also had a community government topped by an unofficial mayor. It fared very well to last 10 years, as many others were burned.
11) Wilson’s WWI Indecision
After the sinking of the Lusitania, Germany temporarily backed off the submarine warfare. Then they soon resumed, and in February 1917, president Wilson officially broke diplomatic relations.
Yet due to numerous reasons, such as uncertain public support, Wilson did not ask Congress for a declaration of war. At the time, he argued that Germany still hadn’t committed “actual overt acts” to warrant a “military response,” according to the National WWI Museum and Memorial.
12) The Settling (and Burning) of Land
Modern people are seen as highly destructive, and it’s pretty hard to argue with that. However, historical folks also comprehensively changed their environment to their desires, using destructive practices such as fires. By clearing land, it could be used for raising livestock, crops, hunting, travel, and managing plants and animals.
13) WWII “Frog Skin” Camouflage Looked too German
Like the previous major wars, World War II saw advances in weaponry, technology, and tactics. Among these was the increased adoption and evolution of camouflage.
One of history’s most famous camouflages is the “Frog Skin,” used by American soldiers in various theaters of war circa 1942. Some were used in France, but quickly retired because the Frog Skin resembled German uniform camouflage. It was also potentially dangerous by increasing the risk of friendly fire.
14) Vivandieres in the Civil War
Throughout history, women and children accompanied the men into battle camps. These camps were routinely full of families, following their regiments wherever they went.
Among the women some were known as the Vivandieres, serving as sutlers to provide or sell various necessities, such as food and
