The U.S. Had An Aunt Sammy As Well As An Uncle Sam (Cool Weird Awesome 857)
Today in 1926, America’s aunt made her debut on the airwaves. That would be Aunt Sammy, who gave cooking tips to millions of listeners in the early days of radio.
At Age 11, Venetia Burney Named Pluto (Cool Weird Awesome 807)
Today in 1918, the birthday of Venetia Burney, who at age eleven, did something few people have done: she named a planet!
Bessie Stringfield Became Miami’s “Motorcycle Queen” (Cool Weird Awesome 806)
It's National Motorcycle Day, so it's a perfect day to tell the story of one of the most legendary riders of all time: Bessie Stringfield, whose cross country trips and daring won her the name "Motorcycle Queen of Miami."
How Did U.S. Dollars Get Their Name? (Cool Weird Awesome 804)
Today in 1785, the US Congress decided that the name of our country’s currency would be the dollar. Getting to that point was kind of a trek.
When Jacqueline Cochran Broke The Sound Barrier (Cool Weird Awesome 774)
Today in 1953, Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier. Then again, Cochran moved at high speed her whole career. Plus: today in 1838, the birthday of Alexander Miles, a Black inventor who made elevators what they are today.
Molly Williams Was A New York Firefighter Before There Was a New York Fire Department (Cool Weird Awesome 764)
For International Firefighters Day, it's the story of Molly Williams, an enslaved Black woman who became the first known woman firefighter, and the first Black firefighter, in the United States. Plus: on the anniversary of Rhode Island declaring independence, a visit to one of the state's most unusual attractions.
Mary Patten, 19 Year Old Sea Captain (Cool Weird Awesome 749)
Today in 1837, the birthday of Mary Patten. She became a celebrity when she came along on a shipping trip led by her husband and ended up in charge of the ship. Plus: photographer Andrew McCarthy has put together a timelapse of the moon’s phases that shows its lunar libration, or sway, in all its glory.
Caroline Herschel Discovered Comets And Became A Star (Cool Weird Awesome 733)
Today in 1750, the birthday of an astronomer who definitely made her mark on the sky: Caroline Herschel, the first woman to discover a comet.
Basketball Great Lisa Leslie Scored 101 Points In A High School Game (Cool Weird Awesome 711)
Today in 1990, a high school basketball player scored 101 points in just 16 minutes. That was Lisa Leslie, who would become one of the biggest names in the WNBA.
The “Six Triple Eight” Brought Black Excellence To The Army During World War II (Cool Weird Awesome 709)
Today in 1945, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, began heading to England for deployment. These 855 servicemembers, all Black women, took on a mission that may not have been glamorous but was considered absolutely essential to the war effort.