United States History On This Date: May 1st

1704 — Boston News-Letter Prints the First Newspaper Advertisement in America

The Boston News-Letter, the first continuously published newspaper in the colonies, prints what historians consider the earliest paid newspaper advertisement in American history. The notice promoted goods newly arrived from England, signaling the rise of a commercial print culture. This moment marks the beginning of American advertising as a public, regulated, and increasingly influential economic force.

1718 — Mission San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo) Is Established

Spanish missionaries establish Mission San Antonio de Valero, intended to convert and settle local Indigenous communities. Over time, the mission evolves into a military outpost and later becomes famous as “The Alamo,” a symbol of Texan identity and sacrifice. Its founding on this date anchors a long arc of frontier conflict, cultural blending, and contested sovereignty in the Southwest.

1852 — Calamity Jane Is Born in Missouri

Martha Jane Canary, later known as Calamity Jane, is born near Princeton, Missouri. She grows into one of the most colorful figures of the American West—scout, performer, storyteller, and frontier survivor. Her life blends fact and legend, reflecting the rough, improvisational world of the Great Plains. She becomes a lasting symbol of Western mythmaking and unconventional female independence.

1898 — U.S. Navy Destroys the Spanish Pacific Fleet at Manila Bay

Commodore George Dewey’s Asiatic Squadron annihilates the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay in the opening days of the Spanish‑American War. The victory is swift and overwhelming, instantly transforming U.S. influence in the Pacific. It marks the beginning of America’s emergence as a global naval power and sets the stage for the complex, often controversial annexation of the Philippines.

America's First Advertisement: The Boston News Letter - Oyster Bay, NY (Est 1704)