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
Revolutionary War Female Soldier Deborah Sampson
Deborah Sampson (1760-1827) is well-remembered for her actions during the Revolutionary War. She decided it was her calling to serve in the Continental Army, so she disguised herself as a man and enlisted. She served successfully for 17 months in an area near West Point, known as Neutral Ground. The discovery of her gender occurred when she was sent with her regiment to Philadelphia. Many of the soldiers—including Deborah- became seriously ill. Sampson’s fever became…
On
This
Day
On July 14, 1918, World War I, Quentin Roosevelt, beloved youngest son of former president Teddy Roosevelt, was shot down in his plane and was killed by the Germans over the Marne River in France. Teddy Roosevelt believed strongly that America needed to enter the war. He campaigned unsuccessfully to be re-elected president and then volunteered to head a volunteer group of fighters in France. President Woodrow Wilson rejected the offer, and TR responded that his sons would go in his place. The three older Roosevelt sons were already on their way to the front, and Quentin, at age 20, volunteered for the U.S. Air Service where he served as a flight commander.
Only in the USA
Fun Facts about the U.S. Flag
Paul Revere Williams, Prominent Black L.A. Architect
Times Square Ball Drop: The Story of the New Year’s Eve Tradition
First Elephants Brought to the United States
Post-Election: A Participatory Democracy
Tourism in the Southwest: Fred Harvey Company
Love what you’re reading?
Skip the noise and get compelling stories about America delivered to your inbox. Mailings arrive about every other week.
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?
Service Dogs
Rearview Mirror
Double Bubble
Recent Stories
Margaret Knight, Inventor of Flat-Bottom Bag Machine
Woman-Owned, Minority-Owned Construction Co: McKissack & McKissack
The Automat: Restaurant Built With Nickels
First Woman Tiger Trainer: Mabel Stark (1888-1968)
Matthew Henson, Co-Discoverer of the North Pole
Women in Medicine: Little Known Crusaders
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)