10 Things That Also Happened On July 4th

This 4th of July we won't only be celebrating our independence.

1. Samoa

In 1892, Western Samoa (now Samoa) changed the International Date Line (resulting in two July 4ths that year). The Pacific island shifted time zones again 119 years later, in 2011. Would you want to celebrate the 4th of July twice?

2. Lady Liberty

In 1886, France offered the United States a gift; the Statue of Liberty. 123 years later, in 2009, the Statue of Liberty's crown was reopened to the public after being closed for 8 years due to security concerns after 9/11.

3. Alice in Wonderland

In 1865, Lewis Carroll published Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The tale would later inspire film, television, comic book, and theatrical adaptations. Despite rumors stipulating that Carroll was under the influence of drugs when he wrote the story, the Lewis Carroll Society of North America claims that he was not.

4. Slavery

In 1827, slavery was abolished in the state of New York. 

5. West Point

In 1802, the United States Military Academy opens in West Point, New York. The school, requiring a congressional nomination for acceptance, incorporates military discipline, training, and mandatory competitive sports participation in addition to academics. Upon graduation, the students (cadets) are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

6. Mars

In 1997, NASA's Pathfinder landed on Mars. It would take photographs providing "unprecedented detail of the geology of the region and hardware on the surface," according to NASA.

7. Louisiana

In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was announced. If you're from Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, northeastern New Mexico, Northern Texas, or Montana, Wyoming, or Colorado East of the Continental Divide, you can thank Thomas Jefferson for that.

8. Providence

In 1636, Providence, Rhode Island was founded. The capital of the smallest state would become the "Creative Capital" with a vibrant arts and culture scene as well as a top design school, a major culinary institute, and an Ivy League university.

9. Hawaii

In 1884, the Republic of Hawaii was established. Its first and only president, Sanford B. Dole, would be later named territorial governor after the U.S. annexes it as a territory four years later. After Hawaii became an official U.S. state in 1959, the first 50-star flag debuted on July 4, 1960.

10. Philippines

In 1946, the Treaty of Manila granted the Philippines full independence from the United States. However, Filipinos celebrate their independence on June 12, commemorating their independence from Spain in 1898.