The Boston Latin School in Boston, Massachusetts was the first public school in colonial North America. It opened 391 years ago today: Apr. 23, 1635. Image: Boston Latin School.

“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” ~As he recollected, Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer thought this, quoting the Bhagavad Gita, after watching the first successful atomic explosion on Jul. 16, 1945. Oppenheimer was born on this day 122 years ago: Apr. 22, 1904. Image: Getty Images.

Happy Earth Day! The first Earth Day was held on this day 56 years ago: Apr. 22, 1970. Do something good for the planet/environment today! (And always.) Image: Victoria and Albert Museum of London.

“If heaven went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.” ~Mark Twain. He wrote this just weeks before his death on Apr. 21, 1910 (116 years ago today). Image: Public domain.

“The mountains are calling and I must go and I will work on while I can, studying incessantly.” ~John Muir, 1873. Naturalist/philosopher/author/conservationist John Muir was born in Scotland on this day 188 years ago: Apr. 21, 1838. Image: Library of Congress.

“Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” ~Adlai Stevenson, 1952. Image: Public domain.

On this day 80 years ago-Apr. 20, 1946-the League of Nations dissolved. The organization, created by the 1919 Treaty of Versailles that officially ended World War I, was rendered obsolete by the creation of the United Nations in the wake of World War II. Image: Public domain.

“Sure, I believe in censorship. I’ve made a fortune from it.” ~Mae West. 99 years ago today-4/19/1927-actress Mae West was sentenced to 10 days in jail for “corrupting the morals of youth” charges stemming from her Broadway play “Sex,” which she wrote and starred in. Image: Public domain.

First Lady Lucretia Rudolph Garfield was born in Ohio on this day in 1832. I loved learning about her over the 15 years I spent working at James A. Garfield NHS. My essay on her will appear in “Ohio’s First Ladies,” coming this fall from @ohiounivpress.bsky.social. Images: Ohio Univ. Press; LOC.

"I try not to take any foolish chances, but there's just no way to play it completely safe and still do your job." Ernie Pyle

One must have priorities in life. For example: I haven’t gotten my Virginia driver’s license yet, but I did get my new library card this morning.

On this day 120 years ago-Apr. 18, 1906-the deadliest earthquake in American history struck in the vicinity of San Francisco, destroying much of the city & causing large fires to break out. About 3,000 people died in the quake and aftermath. Image: 1906 earthquake damage in SF. National Archives.

My new adopted home state of Virginia seceded from the Union on this day in 1861. “No state, upon its own mere motion, can lawfully get out of the Union. Plainly, the central idea of secession, is the essence of anarchy.” ~President Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address, 3/4/1861. Image: LOC.

On 4/16/1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act. The law ended enslavement in Washington, DC, while allowing enslavers who remained loyal to the U.S. in the Civil War the right to petition the government for compensation. Image: Library of Congress.

Excited to see my co-authored article, “Was James Garfield Really a ‘Dark Horse’ in 1880?” in the latest issue of the journal Middle West Review. Thanks to the journal for publishing it and to my coauthor and friend Chris Blubaugh for being a great collaborator. We’re actually working on a part two!

On this day in 1947, Jackie Robinson started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers, making him the first Black athlete to play in a Major League Baseball game. His #42 is now retired by all @mlb.com teams to commemorate his place in baseball and American history. Image: National Portrait Gallery.

“Now he belongs to the ages.” ~Attributed to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton upon the death of President Abraham Lincoln at 7:22 a.m., Apr. 15, 1865 (161 years ago today). Lincoln died about nine hours after being shot by John Wilkes Booth the previous evening. Image: Public domain.

I didn’t create this, but I like it. I’m guessing some of you will, too.

“I am glad we are defeated at Sumter. It will rouse the people…Better to lose a million men in battle than allow the government to be overthrown. The war will soon assume the shape of Slavery and Freedom… .” ~James A. Garfield, Apr. 14, 1861 (two days after CSA attack on Fort Sumter). Image: LOC.

John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln on this day 161 years ago: Apr. 14, 1865. But what happened to the other two people in the presidential box with the Lincolns at Ford's Theater that night? Here's a piece I wrote years ago about the tragic lives of Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris.

“I made the visit deliberately in order to be in a position to give firsthand evidence if ever…there develops a tendency to charge these allegations merely to ‘propaganda.’” ~Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower on his 4/12/1945 tour of the Nazis’ Ohrdruf concentration camp. Image: Eisenhower Pres. Library.

Thomas Jefferson born on this day in 1743. He wrote “all men are created equal” but was also an enslaver who took sexual advantage of at least one enslaved woman who had no agency to refuse/resist. Jefferson’s complicated legacy embodies many of American history’s contradictions. Image: WHHA.

Episode 9 of the Battle of the Bulge video series I’ve been working on with @hcrichardson.bsky.social and her incredible team is now available to watch. Only one episode to go!

My daughter is a first-year elementary school music teacher. One of her district’s high schools asked her to conduct the pit orchestra for their spring musical, “Something Rotten.” We went to see it last night, and it was incredible! The music was, of course, perfect. My wife & I are very proud!

Southerners began the Civil War to preserve, protect, and expand the institution of slavery by firing on Fort Sumter on this day 165 years ago: Apr. 12, 1861. As usual, @hcrichardson.bsky.social offers the best explanation of this moment in American history and how/why it happened.

“History teaches that grave threats to liberty often come in times of urgency, when constitutional rights seem too extravagant to endure.” ~Thurgood Marshall, 1989. Image: Getty Images.

To see my @pirates.com anywhere near first place makes me wonder if the end is near. If it is, at least I’ll die happy. Yes, I know it won’t last SO PLEASE JUST LET ME HAVE THIS.

I’ve been at my new job for six weeks now. Is it too early to break out my Michael Scott-approved “World’s Best Boss” mug? I picked it up for myself at Spencer’s Gifts.

Happy birthday to one of the most important figures in U.S. pop culture history: Liz Sheridan, the actress who played Jerry’s mom on “Seinfeld.” She was born in New York City on this day in 1929. She lived until 2022. Surely I’m not the only 50-something still obsessed with “Seinfeld.” Image: NBC.

4/9/1939: Contralto Marian Anderson performed at Lincoln Memorial. Daughters of the American Revolution barred her from performing at Washington DC’s Constitution Hall because Anderson was Black; First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt invited her to sing at the Lincoln Memorial. Image: Hilton Archive/Getty.

As if the Artemis II mission hasn’t already gotten people excited about space travel and exploration again…

Thanks to @civilwarmemory.bsky.social for the reminder about today being the 161st anniversary of Lee's surrender to Grant but also about the Civil War's most important legacies: emancipation of enslaved people and abolition of American slavery.

“War itself is, of course, a form of madness. It’s hardly a civilized pursuit. It’s amazing how we spend so much time inventing devices to kill each other and so little time working on how to achieve peace.” ~Walter Cronkite. Image: Library of Congress.

On this day 52 years ago-4/8/1974-Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time career home run record of 714. Aaron, a Black man, faced racist comments and death threats as he approached Ruth’s record and after breaking it. Image: Associated Press.

“I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell.” ~General William Tecumseh Sherman. Image: National Archives.

Hey new followers: please follow us over at @jmstownrediscovery.bsky.social too! I’m trying to build the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation’s presence on @bsky.app. I promise great info but also fun and irreverence there, too. Hope to see you there as well. Thanks!

On this day 86 years ago-Apr. 7, 1940-the US Postal Service issued a stamp featuring Booker T. Washington—the first-ever American stamp depicting a Black person. Stamp issued two days after what would have been Washington’s 84th birthday (born enslaved in VA on 4/5/1856). Image: US Postal Museum.

“Well, Grant, we’ve had the devil’s own day.” “Yes. Lick ‘em tomorrow, though.” ~Exchange between Generals William T. Sherman & Ulysses S. Grant on evening of 4/6/1862 (164 years ago tonight) after battle of Shiloh’s first day. The Union won the battle the next day. Images: Library of Congress.

On this day 160 years ago (4/6/1866), the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was formed. It was a fraternal organization of Union Civil War veterans that became a powerful political force, arguing for pensions for Union veterans, equal treatment for Black veterans, and more. Image: GAR medal. Parsa.

Robert Smalls was born enslaved in SC on this day in 1839. During the Civil War, he commandeered a Confederate ship & sailed it to Union waters, thereby freeing himself, his family, & several enslaved crew members & their families. He later served in the SC Legislature & Congress. Image: LOC.

George Washington vetoed only two bills during his presidency. On 4/5/1792 (234 years ago today), he issued the first of those vetoes, which was of the Apportionment Bill concerning representation in the US House of Representatives. His second veto came in Feb. 1797. Image: National Gallery of Art.

I snapped this photo at work on Friday. That’s the Captain John Smith statue with the James River in the background. @jmstownrediscovery.bsky.social is a great place to go to work every day!

“No government can be free that does not allow all its citizens to participate in the formation and execution of her laws.” ~Thaddeus Stevens, abolitionist, civil rights advocate, longtime Pennsylvania congressman. Stevens was born on this day 234 years ago: 4/4/1792. Image: Library of Congress.

58 years ago today-Apr. 4, 1968-civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis by white supremacist James Earl Ray. Dr. King was just 39 years old. Image: On 4/4/1968, associates of Dr. King point in the direction from which the fatal shot came. LIFE/Getty Images.

Happy 77th birthday to NATO, created on this day in 1949. Despite what some would have you believe, it’s still a critically important alliance. But why take my word for it when @hcrichardson.bsky.social can explain it so much better?

185 years ago today (4/4/1841), William Henry Harrison became the first president to die in office. He was just 1 month into his term. The Constitution wasn’t yet clear on presidential succession; Vice President John Tyler moved quickly to assume the presidency. Image: Public Domain.

“Watching My Son Fight” will definitely be a chapter in my future book “Things I Was Not Prepared For in Parenthood, Or, Why I Am Aging Prematurely.”

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his final speech 58 years ago tonight (Apr. 3, 1968) in Memphis. It’s widely known as the “mountaintop speech.” This is a powerful excerpt of that speech. It’s still meaningful and very applicable to the current moment.

Yep, that’s me. Those were my 15 minutes of fame, I guess. But good news: I’ve landed with the awesome @jmstownrediscovery.bsky.social in Virginia, and I’m on a mission to bring my particular brand of snark & irreverence to social media here. So follow us there and see if I crash & burn. Again.

“I am feeling greatly dissatisfied with my lack of opportunity for study…What might not a vigorous thinker do, if he could be allowed to use the opportunities of a presidential term in vital, useful activity?” ~President James A. Garfield, 1881. Image: National Portrait Gallery.