30 th April

1789 George Washington was inaugurated as President of the United States. (See January 20th and March 4th entries.)

1798 The US. Department of the Navy was established. (See March 27th entry.)

1803 The United States doubled in size through the Louisiana Purchase. (See April 22nd and December 30th entries.)

1889 The first George Washington Bridge opened linking New York City and the state of New Jersey. (See October 24th entry.)

Today is a memorable American anniversary. It was on this date, in 1789, that George Washington was sworn in as President of the United States on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City. The first inaugural speech in America was uttered at that ceremony. Although many more followed Washington’s words are worth hearing once again: “The foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality.”

On this day in 1889, the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration, the ribbon was cut to open the George Washington Bridge in New York City. At the time, it connected the community of Washington Heights, New York, with the farmland and forests of Fort Lee, New Jersey, as well as all points west. But it only stood for forty-two years before it was replaced with the far larger bridge that spans the Hudson River today.

Historically, this is a great day for organizing and acquiring. It was on this date, in 1789, that the United States Department of the Navy was established by an act of Congress; since that time it’s grown to become the strongest, most powerful navy in the world. The Louisiana Purchase took place on this day in 1803, when the United States purchased enough land from the French to double the size of the fledgling country for a price of $15 million. Needless to say, it’s worth a bit more than that now. Also on this day in 1900, the U. S. annexed Hawaii, gaining some of the most beautiful islands in the world.