Will Rogers & Gen. Mitchell at Bolling Field, Washington, D.C.

4-24-1925

Image via LOC, no known restrictions

Mount Vernon, April 24, 1872.

Image via NYPL, public domain

On April 24, 1862, during the Civil War, the Union gunboat Iroquois, under Captain De Camp, was hit by grape shot fired from Confederate forces at Fort Jackson. The impact caused extensive damage and led to a devastating explosion, resulting in the deaths of eight crew members and injuries to seven others. The tragedy occurred within the Dahlgren gun’s crew of 25 men, commanded by Lieutenant McNair, emphasizing the lethal power of artillery in wartime.

Image via Shutterstock

On April 24, 1885, Annie Oakley was hired to demonstrate her incredible sharpshooting skills in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.

Image c. 1887 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On April 24, 1895, Joshua Slocum set sail from Boston aboard the “Spray” an oyster boat he’d rebuilt. His 46,000 mile voyage ended three years and three months later and Slocum gained fame as the first man to sail around the world alone.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
in the US

One hundred and tenth Pennsylvania regiment at Falmouth, Va., April 24, 1863, nearly annihilated at battle of Chancellorsville

Image via LOC, no known restrictions

On today’s date April 24, 1880, Otto Fredrik Gideon Sundbäck was born in Odestugu which is located in Jönköping County, Sweden.

He would later emigrate to the U.S. where he would develop his patent for the “separable fastener” which became better known as the zipper.

Photos: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

An aerial view of Beverly Hills, California c. 1919
Wilshire Boulevard is indicated on the photo.

Four years later on today’s date April 24, 1923 the city of Beverly Hills, California voted against being annexed to the City of Los Angeles.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Batman No. 1, the first issue of the Batman comic book series, was published by DC Comics on April 24, 1940.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Hard landing of a Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat aboard the USS Enterprise April 24, 1942. The left landing gear collapsed but the pilot was uninjured.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On April 24, 1913, the Woolworth Building in New York City, was opened to the public.

It was the world’s tallest building for 17 years (between 1913-1930).

Image of the Woolworth Building c. 1913 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

The Prince of Parthia, the first play written by an American and performed by professional actors, premiered on April 24, 1767 at the Southwark Theatre in Philadelphia.

Photo of the Southwark area of Philadelphia that was taken from the shot tower around 1870 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

The U.S. Third Army uncovered a significant cache of German loot stored in a church at Ellingen, Germany. The discovery revealed vast quantities of plundered goods, including crates of clothing, fabric, and household items, which had been systematically looted by Nazi forces from occupied territories during World War II. The church, had been repurposed as a storage site.

April 24, 1945

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

The first baseball game of the American League (as a major league) was played between the Chicago White Stockings and The Cleveland Blues at Chicago’s South Side Park on April 24, 1901. Chicago beat Cleveland 8-2.

Postcard image of South Side Park c. 1915 from V.O. Hammon Publishing Co via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0