July 24, 1777

The Commander-in-chief (George Washington) having left Galloway’s old log-house, where he had “lodged in a bed and his military family on the floor about him,” established his headquarters at Ramapo. He received an intercepted letter from Howe to Burgoyne announcing his intention of sailing eastward. This convinced Washington that the objective point was Philadelphia, in which he was not mistaken. To this place he immediately ordered two divisions, and the entire army followed at once.

from: Washington Day by Day, published in 1895

Image: A miniature of George Washington c. 1777 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On July 24, 1857, Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, and their three sons checked into the Cataract House—their names logged in the guest register as “A. Lincoln & Family.” The hotel, seen here in its prime, was Niagara’s most prestigious accommodation, offering majestic views of the American Rapids. Yet behind its grandeur, an extraordinary story unfolded: the entirely African American staff, led by Underground Railroad conductor John Morrison, secretly ferried enslaved individuals across the river into Canada. There’s no evidence the Lincolns were aware of these operations—but the parallel is striking: one family pausing in comfort mid-journey, while others risked all to escape bondage within the same walls.

The Cataract House would endure into the 20th century before being lost to fire in 1945, erasing its physical presence but not its layered legacy.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

United States Army Ambulance Service Trainees in Caduceus Formation
Camp Crane, Allentown, Pennsylvania — July 24, 1918
Over 1,000 USAACS recruits stand in precise formation depicting the caduceus, symbol of military medicine. Organized during World War I, the demonstration reflected the unit’s role in medical evacuation and support for Allied forces in France and Italy.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

United States Marine, Louis Lowery, who took this photograph of U.S. Marines with the American flag on Mount Suribachi during WWII, was born on July 24, 1916 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Photo from 1905 of Hiram Bingham with his first wife Alfreda Mitchell who was the granddaughter of Charles L. Tiffany who founded Tiffany & Co. in New York City.

On July 24, 1911 during an expedition in Peru, Hiram Bingham encountered the Inca citadel Machu Picchu after being led to the area by a local.

Bingham later served in the U.S. Army and established air service training schools during WWI.

After WWI he served in politics and was Governor of Connecticut for just one day, the shortest term in the state’s history before he became a U.S. Senator.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

July 24, 1901 – Convicted embezzler William Sydney Porter is released from prison and embarks on a career as prolific short story writer O. Henry. His tales often ended with a twist: examples are The Gift of the Magi, The Ransom of Red Chief, The Last Leaf, and The Caballero’s Way, introducing The Cisco Kid.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US

July 24, 1915 saw the largest loss of life from a Great Lakes maritime disaster when the SS Eastland rolled over in the Chicago River. The passenger vessel, long prone to stability issues, was to have carried Western Electric workers and their families to a picnic across Lake Michigan. 844 died, most of them under age 25.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.

Amelia Earhart was born on July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas.

Image of Amelia c. 1928 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

New courthouse under construction with carpenters and businessmen, Nome,
Alaska

– July 24, 1908

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

A photo of Greta Garbo from the film Anna Karenina that was filed on July 24, 1935, about a month prior to the film’s release.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

The crew of Apollo 11 Neil Armstrong, Mike Collins and Buzz Aldrin after returning to earth on July 24, 1969 when they began their 21 day quarantine.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, the wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald was born on July 24, 1900 in Montgomery, Alabama.

The couple first met at a country club dance while F. Scott Fitzgerald was garrisoned at Camp Sheridan near Montgomery, Alabama.

Image: The Fitzgeralds in 1921 by Kenneth Melvin Wright via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Tudor Villa at Lathers Woods in New Rochelle, New York that was designed by American architect Alexander Jackson Davis who was born on July 24, 1803 in New York City.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Lynda Carter was born on July 24, 1951 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Image: Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman in 1976 by ABC Television via Wikimedia Commons, public domain