Stories of America’s Past

Welcome to America Comes Alive!, a site I created to share little-known stories of regular people who made a difference and changed the course of history. Look around and see what inspires you! — Kate Kelly

Kate Kelly
Red Star Animal Relief

The Enduring Role of Animals in World War I

World War I marked a turning point in warfare, ushering in an era of large-scale mechanization. Trains, trucks, tanks, cars, and motorcycles were deployed for the war, yet animals remained indispensable. Before the United States entered the war, France and Britain were importing horses, mules, and donkeys from the U.S. But buying and importing animals was both difficult and expensive. Many of the animals became ill during transatlantic transit. When the United States entered the…
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Dissolvable Pills: An Important Invention by Upjohn

The Upjohn Company was a major name in the pharmaceutical business for many years. Its founder, Dr. W.E. Upjohn, invented the dissolvable pill at a time when liquid and powder measurements were inexact. The “friable” pill was a huge step forward in medicine. For the first time, doctors could provide a patient with an accurately-dosed amount of medicine that would dissolve as it went through the body. For more than 40 years, Dr. Upjohn led…
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Annie Oakley: Sharpshooter & Remarkable Woman

Annie Oakley was born Phoebe Ann Mosey. She grew up to be an international celebrity for her marksmanship. As a child, she needed to help hunt for the family and she became a remarkable sharpshooter. Eventually she changed her name to Annie Oakley and toured with traveling shows. Her level of marksmanship was extraordinary. The work required great vision, dexterity, excellent eye-hand coordination, and the ability to function under pressure. What’s more, Oakley did what…
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On
This
Day

On June 30, 1859, the Great Blondin (a Frenchman named Jean-Francois Gravelet) became the first daredevil to walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. Using only a balancing pole, Blondin crossed on a cable 1100 feet long and about 2 inches in diameter. Some 5,000 spectators were there to see if he would succeed or fail. For Blondin, it was a first in a series of “ascensions” over the Falls.  Each time he varied the challenge.

Heroes & Trailblazers

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Welcome to America Comes Alive!, a site I created to share little-known stories of regular people who made a difference and changed the course of history. Look around and see what inspires you! — Kate Kelly

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Part of the inspiration for this site comes from this remark: “People do not want to hear about simple things. They want to hear about great things – simply told.”

Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams (1860-1935)
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