In 1899 when Peabody & Arnold was formed, summer vacations weren’t the norm for most. For this July post, when many of our clients and employees are enjoying some vacation time, we take a look back at some of the other milestones in 1899 that offered a glimpse of vacations and travel to come. What else was happening 125 years ago? Read on for a bit of interesting history!

• JAN 1, 1899 – Cuba was liberated from Spanish rule by the US, and American occupation continued till 1902.
• JAN 1, 1899 – South Station opened, and the first train left the station.
• JAN 3, 1899 – The first known use of the word “automobile” appeared in an editorial in The New York Times.
• FEB 4, 1899 – The Philippine-American War began just two days before the U.S. Senate ratified the Treaty of Paris.
• FEB 12-14, 1899 – The Great Blizzard of 1899, also known as the St. Valentine’s Day Blizzard, crippled most of the country.
• FEB 14, 1899 – Voting machines were approved by the U.S. Congress for use in Federal Elections.
• MAR 2, 1899 – Mount Rainier National Park was established in Washington State.
• MAR 6, 1899 – Aspirin was first patented.
• MAR 24, 1899 – George Dewey was made Admiral of the Navy.
• APR 13, 1899 – The Tahoe National Forest was established in California.
• MAY 20, 1899 – The first speeding ticket in the USA was issued in New York City.
• JUL 18, 1899 – Boys as young as age seven went head-to-head with newspaper moguls for better pay in the Newsboys’ strike.
• NOV 8, 1899 – The Bronx Zoo opens in New York City.
• DEC 12, 1899 – George Bryant of Boston patented the wooden golf tee.
• 1889 – 1899 – Eifel Tower lifts went into production shortly after it opened in 1889 but was fully complete in 1899.
• 1899 – as a nice parallel to the 2024 Summer Olympics, in 1899 Paris was preparing as the host city for the 1900 Summer Olympic games.