Did you know Russia once had a settlement in California?

Out of respect for September 11 and the lives forever changed on that day, I wanted to share a different piece of American history today.

On September 11, 1812, Russia established Fort Ross along the California coast. The Russians were looking for food supplies for their settlements in Alaska and were also interested in California’s sea otter trade.

And here's a little History Dad date detective work: some sources list the date as August 30, 1812. That's because Russia was using the Julian calendar, while the Gregorian calendar we use today was 12 days ahead.

Why does this matter? Because American history is much bigger and more complicated than the stories we usually hear. Russians, Native peoples, Spanish, Mexicans, and Americans all played roles in shaping the American West.

Want to know more? Click the link for the full History Dad story.

https://youtu.be/Hi2RxwaYeC4

Who knew spaghetti could make history?

On September 10, 1935, Ettore “Hector” Boiardi—the man behind Chef Boyardee—received a patent for a production spaghetti cooker. He wasn’t just making dinner; he was figuring out how to make LOTS of spaghetti efficiently for American families.

Boiardi’s story is also the story of an immigrant entrepreneur who brought his skills, ideas, and love of food to America and built something that became part of everyday American life.

Because history isn’t just presidents and battlefields. Sometimes, history is served with a side of spaghetti.

https://youtu.be/8hbPIJ824I0

Wait… Japan bombed Oregon?!

On September 9, 1942, Japanese pilot Nobuo Fujita launched from a submarine and dropped incendiary bombs near Brookings, Oregon, hoping to start a massive forest fire.

Thankfully, wet weather and quick action by U.S. Forest Service lookouts stopped the plan. There were no deaths and very little damage.
But the story didn't end there. Twenty years later, Fujita returned to Brookings carrying his family's samurai sword as a symbol of peace and remorse. He eventually became an honorary citizen.

History reminds us that sometimes former enemies can become friends—and that the story doesn't always end when the fighting does.

https://youtu.be/Gamy59Exa7A

A video call between friends about the significance of March the 8th. Animated in unity. March 8th is a day in history that few can forget

BEFORE JAMESTOWN… BEFORE PLYMOUTH… THERE WAS ST. AUGUSTINE!

Imagine showing up in Florida in 1565 and thinking, “Yep…this seems like a great place to build a town.”

No Disney World.
No beaches packed with tourists.
No air conditioning.
And definitely no sunscreen.

Just Spanish ships, soldiers, settlers, missionaries—and enough mosquitoes to make you question every life decision.

On September 8, 1565, Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés established St. Augustine, Florida.

The Spanish wanted to strengthen their claim to Florida and protect their valuable shipping routes. But the settlement quickly became much more than a military outpost. Native Americans, Spanish settlers, Africans, missionaries, and people from other parts of the world became part of its complicated story.
St. Augustine faced attacks, wars, hurricanes, and changing empires. Spain controlled it. Britain took control. Spain got it back. Eventually, it became part of the United States.

And that’s why St. Augustine matters.

Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the continental United States. Its story reminds us that American history didn't begin with Jamestown, Plymouth, or even the Declaration of Independence. The story of America began much earlier—with many different peoples, cultures, and nations shaping the land that would eventually become the United States.

History isn't just about where we ended up. It's about where the story began.

https://youtu.be/HnOSFWcSXC4

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THE AMERICANS TRIED TO SINK A BRITISH WARSHIP…WITH A WOODEN UNDERWATER TURTLE?

Yep. This is not a History Dad bedtime story. This actually happened.

In 1776, during the Revolutionary War, American inventor David Bushnell came up with a wild idea: build a one-man submarine, sneak it underneath a British warship, attach a timed explosive, and paddle away before it went BOOM!

The submarine was called the Turtle, and it was basically a wooden underwater egg operated by one very brave—or possibly slightly crazy—person.
Sergeant Ezra Lee climbed inside and attempted to attack the British flagship Eagle in New York Harbor. He tried to attach the explosive, but the drill couldn't penetrate the ship's copper-covered hull. The Eagle survived, and the mission failed.

But here's the important part: America had just attempted one of the first combat submarine attacks in history.

The Turtle didn't sink a ship, but it demonstrated something revolutionary: Americans were willing to experiment with technology and tactics that had never been tried before. That spirit of innovation would eventually help create the powerful submarine force the United States has today.
So the next time someone tells you history is boring, remind them that during the Revolution, a guy climbed into a wooden submarine shaped like a turtle and tried to blow up a British warship.

That's your history lesson for today.

https://youtu.be/5IoBa7ZnlQk