Louisiana Purchase Significant Dates

Treaty was signed April 30, 1803
Jun 20th Jefferson wrote a letter to Lewis to "explore the Missouri River...
Announced to the American people on July 4th by Thomas Jefferson.
Ratified by the Senate Oct. 20th
Oct. 31 Congress made temporary provisions for local civil government to continue
New Orleans was turned over by France on Dec. 20th
March 10, 1804 formal ceremony for the transfer of ownership was held in St. Louis
Oct. 1, 1804 the territory was organized as "Territory of Orleans"

First Practical Steamboat

In 1801 William Symington developed and designed a new steam engine and was built by John Allan. Lord Dundas being a primary sponsor of the project was honored by the naming of the boat as the Charlotte Dundas after Lord Dundas' daughter. The first sailing was on a canal in Glasgow, Jan. 4, 1803. Symington was never paid for his work on the Charlotte. It wasn't until 1807 when Robert Fulton and Livingston built the first commercial steamboat in New York that the industry truly developed.

1804 Dexter Silver Dollar

The Dexter Silver Dollar, 1804 was not minted in 1804. The US Mint did mint silver dollars in 1804 but they were dated 1803, rather than make a new mold. Dexter purchased his coin in 1885 from the Chapman Brothers Auction then sued for authenticity. The US Mint settled the matter. Yes, they had minted the coins in 1834 but only a few. 15 specimens are known. They were gifts.

Dexter had a painting commissioned to celebrate his authentic coin. He also punched a small "D" in one of the clouds on the back of the coin, forever marking it as his.

In a recent auction, 1989, the coin sold for $990,000.

Statehood of States in the United States

When the 19th century began there were 16 states to the union by the end of the century there were 45.

In the columns below you'll see the number in which the state joined the union, the state and then the date.

17 Ohio Mar. 1, 1803
18 Louisiana Apr. 30, 1812
19 Indiana Dec. 11, 1816
20 Mississippi Dec. 10, 1817
21 Illinois Dec. 3, 1818
22 Alabama Dec. 14, 1819
23 Maine Mar. 15, 1820
24 Missouri Aug. 10, 1821
25 Arkansas Jun 15, 1836
26 Michigan Jan. 26, 1837
27 Florida Mar. 3, 1845
28 Texas Dec. 29, 1845
29 Iowa Dec. 28, 1846
30 Wisconsin May 29, 1848
31 California Sep. 9, 1850
32 Minnesota May 11, 1858
33 Oregon Feb. 14, 1859
34 Kansas Jan. 29, 1861
35 West Virginia Jun. 20, 1863
36 Nevada Oct. 31, 1864
37 Nebraska Mar. 1. 1867
38 Colorado Aug. 1, 1876
39 North Dakota Nov. 2, 1889
40 South Dakota Nov. 2, 1889
41 Montana Nov. 8, 1889
42 Washington Nov. 11, 1889
43 Idaho Jul. 3, 1890
44 Wyoming Jul. 10, 1890
45 Utah Jan. 4, 1896