Native Americans

On September 16, 1893, some 100,000 people raced to claim 6 million acres of land in former Indian Territory in Oklahoma.  It was the largest land run into Oklahoma and resulted in the establishment of 40,000 homesteads. 

Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park was established on May 22, 1902. It’s America’s fifth-oldest national park, the only national park in Oregon, and is home to the deepest lake in the country – Crater Lake.

One of the first recorded celebrations of Native American Day was held on May 13, 1916, in New York. Other states adopted similar days later in the year before the first national celebrations were held in 1976. Today Native American Heritage Day is held in November, which is also American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

Arches National Monument was established on April 12, 1929. Made into a national park in 1971, its home to more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches. That makes it the highest density of natural arches in the world.

On February 23, 1540, Francisco Vazquez de Coronado embarked on a large expedition through the American Southwest in search of the Seven Cities of Gold. Though he didn’t find the mythical cities, his was the first European expedition to see a number of sights in the area.

Oglala Lakota Indian warrior Red Cloud died on December 10, 1909.

On December 4, 1674, Father Marquette erected the first building in what would later become Chicago.

Zion National Park was established on November 19, 1919. 

On October 1, 1890, Yosemite National Park was officially established.