Shipping scene, West Santa Fe wharf, San Diego, CA

March 30, 1910

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

After Spain ceded both East Florida and West Florida in 1819 to the United States, the two areas were combined into the Florida Territory by the U.S. on March 30, 1822.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On March 30, 1974 “Sunshine On My Shoulders” by John Denver became the #1 song in America.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On March 30, 1858, Philadelphia stationer Hyman Lipman patented a pencil with an attached eraser. No image of Lipman is known to exist, so here is a 1942 poster with the caption “Stop destroying that eraser, young lady! Last year 180 tons of rubber was used in such erasers, enough to have made 200,000 Army gas masks.”

Image from National Museum of the US Navy via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.

Frankie Laine at the piano, Patti Page sitting on the piano and Richard Hayes on the far left.

c. 1950s

On March 30, 1913 Frankie Laine, who was known for performing songs from a wide variety of musical genres, was born in Chicago, Illinois.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

“Get Well Soon Mr. President”

Photo of President Ronald Reagan looking at a Get Well Soon image as he recovers a little more than week after an attempt was made to take his life on March 30, 1981.

Image from early April 1981 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Alden Skinner was a local physician in Connecticut who decided to volunteer for the Union Army as a surgeon in his early 60s during the Civil War.

During a march near Port Hudson in Louisiana he came down with typhoid and died at a hospital in Baton Rouge on March 30, 1863.

Image via LOC, no known restrictions

John Allen Astin was born on March 30, 1930 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Image: Carolyn Jones & John Allen Astin in The Addams Family, 1964 by ABC Television via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Child with basket standing on Steadman Ave., Nome,

March 30, 1907

via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

American actor and filmmaker Warren Beatty was born on March 30, 1937 in Richmond, Virginia.

He made his movie debut in the 1961 film Splendor in the Grass in which he costarred with Natalie Wood.

Image via Alamy

Photograph of William Seward with his daughter Frances Adeline Seward in 1861.

About 6 years later on today’s date March 30, 1867 William Seward established an agreement with Russia on a treaty to purchase Alaska for $7.2 million…just a few cents an acre.

Just 5 months before Seward makes the deal with Russia, his daughter Frances passed away at the age of 21 from consumption.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Box Canyon on the White Pass Trail, Alaska

March 30, 1899

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On March 30, 1909, The Queensboro Bridge which connects Long Island City in Queens with Manhattan was opened.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

After getting hit by anti-aircraft gunfire over the Palau Islands, the gunner of a U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise secures equipment as the pilot tries to release bombs, in preparation for ditching on
March 30, 1944.

After ditching, the crew was picked up by a task force 58 ship. Note oil, coating the upper fuselage and tail.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On March 30, 1842, Dr. Crawford Long of Georgia used ether as an anesthetic during surgery for the first documented time.
The surgery was to remove tumors from the neck of his patient.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

American musician Tracy Chapman was born on March 30, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Tracy Chapman released her self-titled debut album in 1988, featuring her breakout hit ‘Fast Car.’ The album received widespread acclaim for its heartfelt lyrics and rich, soulful tone, earning her multiple Grammy Awards. ‘Fast Car’ remains an iconic track, continuing to captivate audiences with its timeless appeal across generations

Image of Tracy in 1988 by Zoran Veselinovic • CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons,