President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Valley Grant Act, Senate Bill 203, on June 30, 1864. The legislation gave California the Yosemite Valley and the nearby Mariposa Big Tree Grove "upon the express conditions that the premises shall be held for public use, resort, and recreation." Continue reading.

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On June 29, 1852, statesman Henry Clay, known as "the Great Compromiser" for his feats of legislative reconciliation between the North and the South, died at the age of seventy-five at the Old National Hotel in Washington, D.C. Continue reading.

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A Bosnian Serb, Gavrilo Princip, assassinated Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sofia in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, setting off a chain of events that would culminate in a world war by August. Five years later, on June 28, 1919, Germany and the Allies signed the Treaty of Versailles, formally ending World War I and providing for the creation of the League of Nations. Continue reading.

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British scientist James Smithson died on June 27, 1829. He left an endowment "to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." Continue reading.

Paul Laurence Dunbar was born on June 27, 1872, in Dayton, Ohio. Continue reading.

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On June 26, 1870, the first section of the Atlantic City Boardwalk opened along the New Jersey beach. Continue reading.

The Dominican Republic achieved independence from Spain in 1844. Continue reading.

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On June 25, 1924, Rosalind P. Walter (née Palmer) (1924-2020) was born.  Continue reading.

On June 25, 1876, George Armstrong Custer and the 265 men under his command lost their lives in the Battle of Little Big Horn, often referred to as Custer's Last Stand. Continue reading.

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On June 24, 1961, the public learned of President John Kennedy's letter assigning Vice President Lyndon Johnson the high priority task of unifying the U.S. satellite programs.  Continue reading.

One June 24, 1932, during the reign of King Prajadhipok of the Chakri dynasty, a coup ended the absolute monarchy of Siam(present day Thailand).  Continue reading.

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On June 23, 1845, a joint resolution of the Congress of Texas voted in favor of annexation by the United States. Continue reading.

Robert Louis “Bob” Fosse was born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 23, 1927. Continue reading.

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A bit of June 23rd history…

930 - World’s oldest parliament, the Icelandic Althing, is established

1960 - 1st contraceptive pill is made available for purchase in the US

1961 - The Antarctic Treaty, ensuring that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes, is made (pictured)

1972 - Hurricane Agnes becomes America’s costliest natural disaster, affecting 15 states and $3 billion in damages

1974 - 1st extraterrestrial message sent from Earth into space

1993 - Lorena Bobbitt amputates husband John Bobbitt’s penis

2016 - Brexit referendum: United Kingdom votes to leave the European Union 

Legendary magician and escape artist Harry Houdini married Wilhelmina Beatrice Rahner on June 22, 1894. Continue reading.

On the evening of June 22, 1912, former President Theodore Roosevelt asked his supporters to leave the floor of the Republican National Convention in Chicago. Continue reading.

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