Former Union General and Ohioan James Garfield elected President of the United States, serving less than a year before being assassinated by a disgruntled office-seeker, Charles Guiteau. He is succeeded by Vice-President Chester Arthur.

Author, educator, and orator Booker T. Washington opened the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

The Personal Liberty League was founded to oppose the Temperance Societies. Vermont, Kansas, and Iowa were already “dry.”

First rodeo held in Pecos, Texas

First Steel-wire suspension bridge is opened between Brooklyn and Manhattan, after 13 years of construction.

New York Governor, “Honest Grover” Cleveland elected President on a reform-Democratic ticket. He will be the only Democrat, and the only non-Civil War veteran till 1900, elected to that office between Presidents Grant and Wilson.

The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York City, a gift from France; some assembly required.

Grover Cleveland married Frances Folsom in the White House, the only President to do so.

The United States Navy leased Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for naval base.

Republican Benjamin Harrison, Brevet Brigadier General in the Civil War, from Indiana, elected 23^rd President.

The Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood kills 2,200 people

The First issue of the Wall Street Journal hits the streets