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

The Automat: Restaurant Built With Nickels
For decades, Horn & Hardart’s Automats served as a singular social crossroads within the urban fabric of New York and Philadelphia. It was a regional restaurant business beloved by the locals who frequented it, yet mythologized by a national media that saw the restaurants as unique and powerful social equalizers. Any customer who had a nickel could come in and enjoy a cup of coffee or a piece of pie. After a humble start with…
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Matthew Henson, Co-Discoverer of the North Pole
Matthew Henson (1866–1955) was the ultimate American explorer—brave, skilled, and unbreakable. For decades, however, history relegated him to the shadows because he was Black. Hired originally as a personal valet by well-known explorer Robert Peary, Henson proved to be far more than a servant. He was the critical asset that made Peary’s obsession with the North Pole possible. Yet, in 1909, when Peary and Henson reached what was determined to be the North Pole, Peary…
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Women in Medicine: Little Known Crusaders
In the early 19th century, the American medical field was almost exclusively a men’s club. However, a few resilient women refused to accept the status quo, stepping forward as pioneers to carve out a new path. Today, that landscape is shifting dramatically. While men currently account for 61% of active physicians in the U.S., women now make up the majority of medical students and residents. We are standing on the brink of a major demographic…
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World War I Forgotten Hero: William Shemin
William Shemin’s heroic effort during World War I is a profound testament to valor, resilience, and the enduring American spirit. His heroism was undeniably documented by those who fought alongside him, yet the recognition he deserved was delayed for nearly a century by the systemic prejudice of an era that resisted embracing its Jewish soldiers. Despite not receiving the Medal of Honor in 1919, Bill Shemin (1896-1973) remained fully devoted to the United States. He…
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On
This
Day

On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war against Germany. Wilson had hoped the U.S. could remain neutral, but in early 1917, Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare, sinking additional American ships. Then the British intercepted what is known as the Zimmerman Telegram, suggesting a Mexico-Germany alliance. These issues were beginning to sway the public, and Wilson brought the matter to Congress. Two days later, Wilson had the declaration he wanted—and dreaded.

Heroes & Trailblazers

Joyce Kilmer, World War I Soldier and Well-Known Poet

Alfred Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918) is remembered as a patriot, a family man, a veteran, and a well-known poet. His poetry was so widely-read that when he was killed in World […]

America 250: Read a Little, Learn a Lot

The 250th anniversary of America’s independence—our Semiquincentennial– is just a few months away. The celebrations are intended to begin on July 4, marking the 250th year since the signing of […]

Jovita Idar: Mexican American Journalist and Activist

Journalist and activist Jovita Idar (1885-1946) lived and worked in Laredo, Texas, along the Mexican border. She is the equal of social activists and reporters like Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochran), […]

Legendary Showman Ed Sullivan: Mr. Sunday Night

Ed Sullivan was a legendary showman who grew up in Port Chester, New York. His career as a long-time television host came about from hard work and good luck. His […]

Song Pluggers in the American Music Industry

Song pluggers were a big part of the growing music industry during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Before recorded music could be distributed, publishers hired professional songwriters to […]

The Invention of the Jukebox

A jukebox! If you walk into a themed restaurant where they have jukeboxes, it’s still a thrill. The thought of choosing some tunes that remind us of our teen years […]

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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

Who Thought of That?

Recent Stories

Why is Election Day on Tuesday after the first Monday in November?

Why is Election Day always on a Tuesday? This is a question I am often asked when I address groups about our election day history. In 1845, Congress chose the […]

Edmonia Lewis: Sculptor Who Achieved International Fame

Edmonia Lewis was a groundbreaking sculptor who achieved international fame during the 19th century. She was born to a Black Haitian father and a mother of Native American (Ojibwe) and […]

Times Square Ball Drop: The Story of the New Year’s Eve Tradition

Each year on December 31 at one minute before midnight (Eastern Standard Time), people from around the world welcome the new year when the shimmering 12,300-pound crystal Waterford ball drops […]

Road Maps: Before There Was GPS

Remember foldable paper road maps? For some of us, the thought of foldable highway maps conjures memories of family road trips where the words, “Let’s stop for a map,” were […]

When Gasoline-Powered Cars Were First Used, Where Did They Get Gasoline?

How did early drivers get gasoline before there were gas stations? Until “horseless carriages” began traveling along American roads, there hadn’t been much need for gasoline. Gasoline was identified during […]

Cher Ami and Other Heroic Birds

No homing pigeon ever enlisted in any war, but they were used by the military on both sides of the conflicts during World Wars I and II. Once in place, […]

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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