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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
auto endurance contest

1909 Transcontinental Automobile Race

Automobile travel in the early 1900s was very difficult. Roads were largely unpaved, maps were few, and cars were for the very rich. Mining heir Robert Guggenheim, 24, loved to … 1909 Transcontinental Automobile Race Read More »
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Chester Nez: Navajo Code Talker & Marine

Chester Nez, a Navajo, was recruited by the Marines in 1942. He was one of 29 Navajos who were brought into the military for the express purpose of creating an … Chester Nez: Navajo Code Talker & Marine Read More »
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First Latino to Earn Medal of Honor Fought In Civil War

Corporal Joseph H. De Castro, 20, distinguished himself at Gettysburg during Pickett’s Charge. He was the first Latino to earn the country’s highest military decoration for valor in combat, the … First Latino to Earn Medal of Honor Fought In Civil War Read More »
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Abraham Lincoln’s Dog, Fido

In the 1850s, the Lincoln family acquired a yellow mixed-breed dog they named Fido. Fido often accompanied Lincoln to his Springfield law office or around town on errands. Fido also … Abraham Lincoln’s Dog, Fido Read More »
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The Schoolhouse (or Children's) Blizzard of 1888The Schoolhouse (or Children’s) Blizzard of 1888
Helen Keller's DogsHelen Keller’s Dogs
Ronald Reagan's Jelly BeansRonald Reagan’s Jelly Beans
“Kilroy Was Here”-A Story from World War II“Kilroy Was Here”-A Story from World War II

On
This
Day

On January 24, 1935, beer was sold in cans for the first time. In partnership with the American Can Company, the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company delivered 2,000 cans of its beer and ale to faithful Krueger drinkers in Richmond, Virginia. The response was overwhelmingly positive, so Krueger began manufacturing canned beer permanently. Early attempts to can beer had failed, but the invention of a pressurized can with a coating that prevented the beer from chemically reacting with the tin was the success formula they needed. Cans were easier to stack, to ship, and to chill. Cans began to erode the bottled beer market.

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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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