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
The New York Amsterdam News was founded in Manhattan in 1909 by James H. Anderson. From Anderson’s humble beginnings and his $10 investment, the newspaper grew to be one of the most influential Black-owned newspapers in the United States. Anderson’s original intent was to create a weekly community paper highlighting local news, including weddings, social news and information about the neighborhood. Its location in the heart of a Black community in Manhattan soon led Anderson…
Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806), a free Black man and a contemporary of the Founding Fathers, was an interdisciplinary pioneer who taught himself about various forms of science, astronomy, and geographical surveying. His greatest contribution was his series of widely published almanacs that measured precise astronomical calculations, tides, and weather predictions. In the late 1700s, this scientific data was highly valued by farmers and sailors whose lives depended on this information. Just as Benjamin Franklin added pithy…
When World War II began, the United States military had no plan for using dogs for defense. This was in spite of the example set by European countries that employed trained military dogs to great effect during World War I. The American wake-up call for better defense measures came on December 7, 1941, with the attack on Pearl Harbor. Both military leadership and an anxious public realized the country was woefully under-prepared. The nation was…
Sacagawea’s story is everywhere. She is part of every book written about Lewis and Clark’s journey. There are many, many children’s books about her, and she is said to have more statues created in her image than any other woman in America. No doubt about it, Americans know of Sacagawea. But do they know the true story? Maybe not. Her story has been told so often that parts of it have become a folk tale…
On November 2, 1947, the largest aircraft ever built–the “Spruce Goose”—flew on its first and only flight. The plane was commissioned by the U.S. government for the war effort, but it was not completed until 1946. Designed by Howard Hughes and made of spruce and birch wood, the aircraft had a wingspan longer than a football field and was intended to carry more than 700 men to battle.
Halloween pranks and mischief-making have been a part of Halloween in America for at least 150 years. When the Irish and the Scottish immigrants came to North America, they brought […]
Restaurateur Howard Johnson made a name for himself by building a chain of roadside restaurants and motor lodges throughout the country. Johnson emphasized quality control and a consistently good experience […]
Candy corn is to Halloween what the candy cane is to Christmas. We may not dream of eating either of them, but each is the iconic candy for its holiday. […]
n 1908, women participated in a political convention for the first time. The convention itself was for the Democratic Party, and it was to be held in Denver, Colorado, in […]
In today’s world, major national political conventions in the United States are subject to the highest levels of security. The federal government oversees everything from the obvious site inspections and […]
Flag Day was proclaimed to be June 14 by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. The date was chosen to commemorate that on June14, 1777, a flag with stars and stripes was selected […]
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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
In 1909, long before pasteurized milk was standard in Washington, D.C., First Lady Helen “Nellie” Taft entered the White House with a personal goal. There were few dairies near the […]
Long before modern celebrity pets, there was Dave the Wonder Dog—the famous English Setter who shared the spotlight with legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley and her husband, Frank Butler. Nearly as […]
Marcelino Serna was still a Mexican citizen when he fought for the United States in World War I. He was smart at battlefield tactics, felt loyal to his fellow soldiers, […]
Before she became a global superstar, Annie Oakley was simply Phoebe Ann Mosey, a young girl relying on her remarkable ability with firearms to support her family by hunting. That […]
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 […]
Bubble gum was introduced in Philadelphia in 1928 where it was invented by a 23-year-old named Walter Diemer (1905-1998). Diemer was not a chemist—he was an accountant who worked for […]
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.”
