This Month in History: March

Yellowstone Park geysers, waterfall, bear, and wolf

March 1, 1872 - Yellowstone National Park established

Signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant 152 years ago, America's first national park was set aside to preserve and protect the scenery, cultural heritage, wildlife, and geologic and ecological systems for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. Yellowstone has the most active and diverse geothermal features with over 10,000 hydrothermal sites and half the world's active geysers. The park is a wonderful place to camp, hike, ski, fish, and enjoy the natural beauty of the West. Yellowstone is full of history with 25 sites, landmarks, and districts on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Revolutionary war soldiers, Betsy Ross flag, Crispus Attucks, and John Adams

March 5, 1770 - Boston Massacre

Bostonians were upset over taxes and the constant surveillance by British troops. On March 5, a small argument in front of the Custom House escalated into a riot. Two hundred angry colonists gathered and British soldiers were called in. When they arrived, the colonists began throwing things at the soldiers. Someone yelled 'fire' and the soldiers shot into the crowd. When it was over, three colonists were dead and two mortally wounded. Crispus Attucks, an African-American, was amongst the three. He was the most famous African-American killed in the Revolutionary War and became a symbol for abolitionists. The soldiers were put on trial with John Adams, a future American president, defending them. Two were found guilty of manslaughter, while the rest were found not guilty. British troops moved out of Boston and the massacre is seen as a defining moment in bringing about the Revolutionary War. (Crispus Attucks image from Picryl)

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Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scout cookies and postage stamp

March 12, 1912 - Girl Scouts of America founded

Juliette Gordon Low, nicknamed Daisy, started the Girl Scouts with 18 girls in her hometown of Savannah, Ga. At the time, women couldn't vote and were restricted to specific social norms and traditional professions. Low wanted to teach young women to embrace their unique talents and strengths and to create opportunities to be more than what society dictated. Over 100 years later, Girl Scout troops can be found across our nation. Girls gather together to learn new skills, create lifelong friendships, and discover how to make the world a better place.

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Statue of Julius Caesar and the Colosseum

March 15, 44 B.C.E. - Julius Caesar assassinated

Julius Caesar was a general, scholar, and politician in ancient Rome. He was crafty, forming and ending various alliances to enhance his power. His career involved traveling around much of Europe and the Middle East, including Egypt where he had a relationship with Cleopatra. He named himself dictator of Rome, making many changes to benefit the lower and middle classes, thus gaining their loyalty. This made other Roman politicians upset because they feared he would become king. Julius Caesar's time as dictator was a turning point, bringing about the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire. He was assassinated by Brutus and fellow Senate conspirators on the Ides of March. William Shakespeare wrote a play about Julius Caesar in 1599. A notable quote from this work is, "Beware the Ides of March."

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Factual information from: the National Park Service, the National Constitution Center, the Girls Scouts of America, and History.

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By BethN on February 29, 2024