1849 in the United States‬
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Events
• January 23 â€" Elizabeth Blackwell is awarded her M.D. by the Medical Institute of Geneva, New York, thus becoming the United States' first woman doctor.
• February 14 â€" In New York City, James Knox Polk becomes the first President of the United States to have his photograph taken.
• February 28 â€" Regular steamboat service from the west to the east coast of the United States begins with the arrival of the SS California in San Francisco Bay. The California leaves New York Harbor on October 6, 1848, rounds Cape Horn at the tip of South America, and arrives at San Francisco, California after the 4 month 21 day journey.
• March 3 â€" Minnesota becomes a United States territory.
• March 3 â€" The United States Department of the Interior is established.
• March 3 â€" The U.S. Congress passes the Gold Coinage Act allowing the minting of gold coins.
• March 4 â€" Zachary Taylor refuses to be sworn in office on a Sabbath (Sunday). Urban legend holds that David Rice Atchison, President pro tempore of the United States Senate was President de jure for a single day.
• March 5 â€" Zachary Taylor, the 12th President of the United States of America, takes his oath of office.
• May 3 â€" The Mississippi River levee at Sauvé's Crevasse breaks, flooding much of New Orleans, Louisiana.
• June 6 â€" Fort Worth, Texas is founded.
• September 1 â€" The first segment of the Pennsylvania Railroad, from Lewiston, Pennsylvania to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, opens for service.
• November â€" Austin College receives a charter in Huntsville.
• November 13 â€" The Constitution of California is ratified by the electorate.
Ongoing
• California Gold Rush (1848â€"1855)
Posted 03/29/2014 1:59 pm
