By Tim Lambert The Foundation of Chicago The history of Chicago begins in the year 1673. In that year two Frenchmen, Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet arrived in the area. (The name Chicago is derived from a Native American word of uncertain meaning, checagou). However, the French did not settle the area. The first non-indigenous… Continue reading A History of Chicago
Category: History of American states and cities
A History of Colonial America
By Tim Lambert The Earliest Colonies The first Europeans to establish colonies in North America were the Spanish. In 1526 a Spaniard called Lucas Vasquez de Allyon attempted to found a colony in Carolina. (He also brought the first black slaves to North America). However, the attempt failed. Many Spaniards died of disease and the… Continue reading A History of Colonial America
A History of Colorado
By Tim Lambert Early Colorado The first people in Colorado arrived about 12,000 years ago. At first, they lived mainly by hunting mammoths. But mammoths became extinct and bison became the main source of food. The Spanish introduced horses into North America and in the late 17th century horses had reached Colorado and transformed hunting.… Continue reading A History of Colorado
A History of Detroit
By Tim Lambert Early Detroit The great city of Detroit began as a French fort. The French built it on the Detroit River in 1701. Led by Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac (1658-1730) 100 soldiers and workers built a wooden palisade. Soon a little settlement grew up by the fort but in 1760 during the… Continue reading A History of Detroit
A History of Fairbanks Alaska
By Tim Lambert Early Fairbanks The story of Fairbanks, Alaska began in 1901 with a trader from Ohio called E T (Elbridge Truman) Barnette (1863-1933). In 1901, Barnette sailed to St Michael, Alaska. He planned to open a trading post at Tanacross. He planned to travel there in a river steamer called the Lavelle Young.… Continue reading A History of Fairbanks Alaska
A History of Juneau Alaska
By Tim Lambert The Foundation of Juneau Juneau was founded by two men named Joseph Juneau (1833-1899) and Richard Harris (1833-1907). They discovered gold in 1880 and prospectors flocked to the area. At first, the new town was called Harrisburg but it was soon renamed Rockwell then Juneau. Within a year it had a population… Continue reading A History of Juneau Alaska
A History of Las Vegas
By Tim Lambert The Foundation of Las Vegas For hundreds of years, Native Americans lived in the area where Las Vegas now stands. They grew corn and squashes. Then in 1829, a Spanish trader named Antonio Armijo led a group of men through the area. They called it Las Vegas (Spanish for ‘The Meadows’). Then… Continue reading A History of Las Vegas
A History of Los Angeles
By Tim Lambert Early Los Angeles The great city of Los Angeles was founded in 1781. It was called El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula. (Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of Porcincula). At first, there was only a handful of families but by 1800 it had a… Continue reading A History of Los Angeles
A History of New Orleans
By Tim Lambert The Foundation of New Orleans In 1682 the French explorer Robert de La Salle explored the River Mississippi and claimed Louisiana for France. In 1718 Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur d’Iberville founded the great city of New Orleans. It was named in honor of the Duke of Orleans. New Orleans was built in… Continue reading A History of New Orleans
A History of New York City
By Tim Lambert 17th Century New York An Italian, Giovanni da Verrazano discovered New York Harbor in 1524. In 1609, an Englishman, Henry Hudson, sailed up the Hudson River. Then, in 1624, the Dutch founded the first permanent trading post. In 1626, the first governor, Peter Minuit, bought the island of Manhattan from the Native… Continue reading A History of New York City