United States History On This Date: March 17

1776 — British Evacuate Boston
British forces withdrew from Boston after Washington’s successful fortification of Dorchester Heights forced their departure. The evacuation ended nearly a year of occupation and marked the first major strategic victory of the American Revolution, boosting morale across the colonies.
1601 — First St. Patrick’s Day Parade in America
The earliest recorded St. Patrick’s Day parade in what would become the United States took place in St. Augustine, Florida. Organized by Spanish colonial settlers, it predates later Irish‑American celebrations and marks the holiday’s deep early roots in North America.
1825 — Erie Canal Opens (Milestone Marked on This Date)
The Erie Canal, one of the most transformative infrastructure projects in early U.S. history, was completed and celebrated for revolutionizing trade between the Atlantic and the Great Lakes. It accelerated western expansion and cemented New York City’s rise as a dominant commercial port.
1905 — Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Marry
Future president Franklin D. Roosevelt married Eleanor Roosevelt in New York City. Their partnership would become one of the most influential in American political history, shaping progressive reform, wartime leadership, and the evolution of the modern presidency and First Lady’s role.

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, wearing fur shawl, and Franklin D. Roosevelt stand together in Hyde Park, N.Y., in March 1905. The couple became engaged in 1903 and married on March 17, 1905.