Today in US history on February 26: Grand Canyon National Park established, National Currency Act signed, NYC’s first subway experiment

On this day, February 26 has marked several defining moments in US history, spanning conservation, finance, transportation, culture, and music, each reflecting how the nation’s institutions and identity have evolved over time.

In 1919, Congress passed legislation establishing Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, protecting one of the world’s most extraordinary natural landscapes. Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, the canyon spans 277 miles and covers more than one million acres. The region remains deeply connected to Native American history, with tribes including the Hopi, Navajo, Zuni, Paiute, Havasupai, and Hualapai maintaining centuries-old ties to the land.

Also Read: Today in US history on February 25: Thomas Jefferson secures nomination, Samuel Colt patents the revolver, and the US dollar enters circulation


On this day in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the National Currency Act, creating a single national currency and laying the foundation for a unified US banking system during the Civil War. The move helped stabilize the economy and strengthened federal control over monetary policy.

February 26 also marks milestones in innovation and infrastructure. In 1870, New York City witnessed the first attempt at an underground subway with the opening of the Beach Pneumatic Transit, a short pneumatic-powered tunnel that hinted at the future of urban transportation. In 1895, inventor Michael Owens patented a glass-blowing machine that revolutionized bottle manufacturing and transformed industrial production.

The arts and sciences also left their imprint on this date. In 1914, the New York Museum of Science & Industry was incorporated, reflecting growing public interest in scientific education. Five years later, in 1919, Acadia National Park was established in Maine, originally named Lafayette National Park, becoming the first national park east of the Mississippi River.

Cultural history adds its own highlights. In 1859, chess prodigy Paul Morphy began a celebrated match against Augustus Mongredien, which Morphy ultimately won, cementing his reputation as one of the game’s early greats. More than a century later, in 1983, Michael Jackson’s album Thriller reached No. 1 on the charts, beginning a historic 37-week run that would redefine pop music and global celebrity.