#OnThisDay: Oct. 15 – Oct. 22, 2020

Oct. 15, 2020 – Discovery Park of America is filled with artifacts, replicas, history, science, art and more. Our mission is to inspire children and adults to see beyond, and we do so by sharing educational content online and throughout our museum.

We share weekly updates on anniversaries and significant moments in history, and where you can find items related to these dates through our museum and heritage park.

Liberty Hall

• Oct. 15, 1781 (239th anniversary) – Hopelessly trapped at Yorktown, Virginia, British General Lord Cornwallis surrendered 8,000 British soldiers and seamen to a larger Franco-American force, effectively bringing an end to the American Revolution.

Native Americans Gallery

• Oct. 19, 1938 (82nd anniversary) – This is the birthday of Brent Wade who owned roughly 3,000 of the Native American artifacts at Discovery Park.

Freedom Square: Walk of Heroes

• Oct. 20, 1803 (217th anniversary) – While Thomas Jefferson was serving his first presidential term, the Louisiana Purchase was completed and doubled the size of the United States.

Military Gallery

• Oct. 21, 1856 (164th anniversary) – The patent was issued to Jean Alexandre LeMat of New Orleans for the LeMat Revolver. The Confederate Army mostly used this revolver.

Science, Space and Technology Gallery

• Oct. 22, 1987 (33rd anniversary) – A Gutenberg Bible Old Testament was purchased by a Japanese buyer at Christie’s Auction House for $5.4 million, a record at auction for a printed book.

International/National Holidays

• Oct. 21, 2020 – National Reptile Awareness Day