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 June 10, 1752, Benjamin Franklin flew a kite during a thunderstorm and collected a charge when the kite was struck by lightning, thus demonstrating the electrical nature of lightning. He invented the lightning rod and coined a number of terms used today. This was in addition to being a founding father, creating a city library, an insurance company, a city hospital and an academy in Philadelphia that would later become the University of Pennsylvania.
Only in the USA
Paul Revere Williams, Prominent Black L.A. Architect
Times Square Ball Drop: The Story of the New Year’s Eve Tradition
When Gasoline-Powered Cars Were First Used, Where Did They Get Gasoline?
First Elephants Brought to the United States
Post-Election: A Participatory Democracy
Tourism in the Southwest: Fred Harvey Company
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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?
Service Dogs
Rearview Mirror
Double Bubble
Recent Stories
Margaret Knight, Inventor of Flat-Bottom Bag Machine
Woman-Owned, Minority-Owned Construction Co: McKissack & McKissack
First Woman Tiger Trainer: Mabel Stark (1888-1968)
Matthew Henson, Co-Discoverer of the North Pole
Women in Medicine: Little Known Crusaders
Edmonia Lewis: Sculptor Who Achieved International Fame
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)