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A page from the past
April 2, 1792
Congress passes the Coinage Act, which founds the Mint and a decimal-based currency system. The passage eventually led to the construction of the first Mint building in Philadelphia.
Source: www.historychannel.com
Photo courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
April 5, 1880
The light shines in Milwaukee for the first time as electricity illuminates the city.
Source: Wisconsin History Day by Day
April 8, 1935
President Franklin Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration earns approval from Congress. The WPA employed more than 8.5 million people on 1.4 million public projects - including highway, bridge and dam construction jobs - before it was disbanded in 1943.
Source: www.historychannel.com
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Foundation
April 9, 1959
Frank Lloyd Wright dies at the age of 89. The architectural icon, who was born in Richland Center in 1867, executed 1,174 designs over the course of his 60-year career.
Source: Wisconsin History Day by Day
Photo courtesy of FLLW Foundation
April 12, 1981
The space shuttle Columbia takes to the skies for the first time as it's launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Piloted by astronauts Robert L. Crippen and John W. Young, the shuttle was the first reusable manned spacecraft to travel into space.
Source: www.historychannel.com
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Foundation
April 14, 1846
Milwaukee organizes its first public school board, and Rufus King becomes its president.
Source: Wisconsin History Day by Day
April 21, 1967
General Motors hits 100 million vehicles produced when the company's Janesville factory rolls out a blue, two-door Chevrolet Caprice. The vehicle was taken to GM's birthplace in Flint, Mich., where it was enshrined.
Source: Wisconsin Historical Society
April 22, 1970
The first Earth Day is celebrated. The celebration, which focuses on environmental concerns, was founded by Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson.
Source: Wisconsin History Day by Day
April 25, 1947
President Harry S. Truman dedicates the first White House bowling alley, and he knocks down seven pins on his first roll. The two-lane alley was built in the West Wing by a group of Truman's fellow Missourians for the president's 63rd birthday.
Source: www.historychannel.com
Photo by Abbie Rowe, National Park Service, courtesy of Harry S. Truman Library