Fun Facts

About February

by Amanda Griffin
February isn’t just about hearts, flowers, and love. It is also known for several significant historical (and current) themes and events including Black History Month and Groundhog Day, both celebrated in the US and Canada, and Leap Year’s extra day every four years, among others.
  • The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2, 1848, ending the Mexican-American War and establishing the Rio Grande as the border between Texas and Mexico..
  • On February 2, 1925, a life-saving serum was delivered to Nome, Alaska, by a relay of dog sled teams to combat a diphtheria outbreak, known as the “Great Race of Mercy.”
  • The 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed on February 3, 1870, granting African-American men the right to vote.
  • The Beatles arrived in the United States for the first time, landing at JFK Airport in New York City on February 7, 1964, sparking the “British Invasion” of music.
  • Canada adopted the red maple leaf design known as “The Maple Leaf” on February 15, 1965, replacing the “Red Ensign” as the national flag.
  • On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
  • Astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth, making three orbits in his spacecraft, Friendship 7, on February 20, 1962.
  • The Canadian government formally adopted “O Canada” as the country’s national anthem on February 22, 1979.
  • On February 25, 1870, Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African American to serve in the U.S. Senate.
  • On February 28, 1966, the Canadian government introduced the new Canadian dollar, replacing the Canadian pound.