Colonel Roosevelt and his Rough Riders at the top of the hill which they captured, Battle of San Juan

Today in History: The Rough Riders

Today in History–July 1–the Library of Congress features the rough riders. On this day in 1898 these voluntary cavalrymen, led by Theodore Roosevelt, helped to secure a U.S. victory in the Battle of Santiago, the decisive battle of the short-lived Spanish-American War. The rough riders stormed Kettle Hill, then joined in the capture of the San Juan Hill complex in…

Today in History: Postage Stamps

Today in History: Postage Stamps

Today in History–July 1–the Library of Congress features postage stamps. On July 1, 1847, the United States Post Office issued a five-cent stamp honoring Benjamin Franklin, the first postmaster general under the Continental Congress, and a ten-cent stamp honoring George Washington. Philatelists and the just plain curious can find more tantalizing tidbits by visiting the Today in History section, and clicking the…