u/ChallengeEntire7362

On this day in 1934, the very first All-American Soap Box Derby was held in Dayton, Ohio!

Think about it: kids built their own cars, climbed inside, pointed them downhill, and hoped gravity—and their engineering skills—would get them to the finish line. No engine. No fancy technology. Just wheels, a hill, and probably a parent yelling, “SLOW DOWN!”

But the Soap Box Derby was about more than racing. Kids learned building, problem-solving, competition, teamwork, and perseverance. During the Great Depression, it also gave families and communities something positive to rally around.

Why does this matter to American history?

Because sometimes history isn't just presidents, wars, and major events. Sometimes it's kids building something with their own hands and learning that hard work, creativity, and determination can take you somewhere.

And let's be honest… what could possibly go wrong when you give a kid a homemade car and a big hill?

That's today's story from History Dad Storytelling!

What was the craziest thing you built as a kid?

https://youtu.be/TQ06K6BAzus

Hi everyone! I’m reaching out for something a little different. Yes, I’d love to introduce you to my History Dad Storytelling page, but more importantly, I’d like to explore how I might use it as a tool to help teachers and students in the classroom.

Last year, I passed my Praxis exam for grades 5–12 with the goal of becoming a history teacher. Unfortunately, life threw me a curveball, and I wasn’t able to complete the rest of my degree. I currently have a degree in Intelligence and Critical Thinking, but my passion has always been history—and, more specifically, telling the stories behind the history.

That’s where History Dad Storytelling comes in. Right now, I’m creating short 3–5 minute videos that bring historical events, people, and moments to life, along with interesting facts and little pieces of history that sometimes get overlooked. Eventually, I’d love to take this much further and create longer, more classroom-focused content.

So, teachers, I’d genuinely love your input: What could someone like me create that would actually be useful to you in the classroom? Short video lessons? Historical storytelling segments? Discussion starters? Primary-source ideas? Something else entirely?

I’m not trying to pretend I have all the answers. I’m simply trying to figure out how I can take something I love—history and storytelling—and turn it into something that helps educators and students.

Please feel free to reach out, comment, or send me a message. I’d really appreciate hearing what you think.

And if you have a few minutes, check out History Dad Storytelling on YouTube. Like I said… I’m just a dad who loves history and wants to share the stories that make it come alive. 🇺🇸📖

Teachers, what would YOU find useful

https://youtu.be/BGtJgNstcK4

HISTORY DAD DAILY: THE BABY WHO BECAME PART OF AMERICA'S BIGGEST MYSTERY On August 18, 1587, Virginia Dare was born on Roanoke Island. She was the first child born to English parents in the Americas—and her story would become connected to one of the greatest mysteries in American history.

Virginia was born into the Roanoke Colony, an English settlement led by John White, her grandfather. But White eventually sailed back to England for supplies. When he returned years later, the entire colony had disappeared.

The only clues were a few mysterious carvings, including the word “CROATOAN.” What happened to Virginia and the other colonists? Did they join a nearby Native American community? Move somewhere else? Something much worse? We still don't know for certain. Why does this matter to U.S. history?

Virginia Dare's birth represents one of the earliest chapters in England's attempt to establish a permanent presence in North America. Her story connects exploration, colonization, Native American history, and one of America's oldest unsolved mysteries. And that's why I love history—sometimes the most interesting stories don't have an ending.

Watch today's History Dad video and let's talk about what YOU think happened to the Lost Colony!

https://youtu.be/bdki3YWs6mk

HISTORY DAD: Before Starbucks, There Were Veggie Wars!

On August 17, 1907, about eight farmers rolled their wagons into Seattle and accidentally created history! They set up at Pike Place to sell their produce directly to customers because farmers were tired of middlemen taking a big cut while consumers paid high prices.

And Seattle showed up—BIG TIME. Farmers sold out so quickly that one farmer joked he needed police protection or a wagon on stilts! By the end of the first week, dozens of farmers were joining in, and Pike Place Market was officially on its way to becoming a Seattle institution.

Now here's the part coffee lovers might recognize. In 1971, Starbucks opened its original store at Pike Place Market. And years later, Starbucks introduced Pike Place Roast, a coffee blend named for the famous market. So that morning in 1907 when farmers were selling vegetables from wagons eventually helped create the setting for one of America's most recognizable coffee stories!

That's why I love doing History Dad—because history isn't just presidents, wars, and dates. It's farmers, hungry crowds, entrepreneurs, coffee, and sometimes a guy wondering if he needs to put his vegetable wagon on stilts.

Watch today's History Dad video to hear the full story of how eight farmers helped launch one of America's most famous markets!

https://youtu.be/OH0QzdvTRKE

History Dad Storytelling 14 Aug 2026

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY — AUGUST 14, 1862

Imagine getting invited to the White House… only to sit down with President Abraham Lincoln during the middle of the Civil War. 😳

On this day in 1862, Lincoln hosted a group of Black American leaders at the White House—the first official meeting between a U.S. president and a group of Black American representatives. The conversation centered on the future of Black Americans and Lincoln’s controversial ideas about voluntary colonization.
It was a complicated moment in a complicated time. Just weeks later, Lincoln would move closer to issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, forever changing the course of the Civil War and American history.

History isn't always simple—and that's exactly why we need to talk about it. 🇺🇸

👉 Want the whole story? Watch today’s History Dad video and take a trip back to 1862!

https://youtu.be/N5-gUC79HMU

Before smartphones, there were PAY PHONES! In 1889, inventor William Gray received a patent for a coin-controlled telephone apparatus—and he helped change the way Americans communicated. Basically, Gray figured out how to make a telephone say, “Sure, you can use me… but first, where’s the nickel?”

His invention helped lead to the first public pay phones, giving people a way to make calls without owning a telephone themselves. For generations, pay phones became a familiar sight in train stations, businesses, hotels, street corners, and just about anywhere people needed to make a call.

Today, we carry incredibly powerful computers in our pockets and can call someone from almost anywhere. But in 1889, being able to make a telephone call simply by dropping a coin into a machine was pretty amazing technology.

That's today's History Dad lesson! Check out the video to learn more about William Gray, the invention of the pay phone, and how this simple idea helped make telephone communication accessible to millions of Americans.

https://youtu.be/eFtP2gwD3DY

HISTORY DAD DAILY: The Day Indianapolis Got FAST!

In 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened its gates in Indiana. And apparently, America decided that automobiles weren't exciting enough unless you put them on a giant oval and told people to go REALLY fast. 😂

What started as a place to test and race automobiles would eventually become the home of one of the most famous races in the world—the Indianapolis 500. 🏎️💨

The Speedway isn't just about racing. It tells the story of America's love affair with the automobile and how cars transformed transportation, manufacturing, entertainment, and American culture.

🎥 Want to know how Indianapolis became the Racing Capital of the World? Check out today's History Dad video!

🏁 1909–2026: More than a century of history, horsepower, and questionable decisions at 200+ mph.

https://youtu.be/xbE5DrRXjEA

History Dad Storytelling 11 Aug 2026

🚨 HISTORY DAD ALERT: “SOS!” WASN’T JUST A THING IN MOVIES! 🚨

On August 11, 1909, the SS Arapahoe was cruising off the coast of North Carolina when its propeller shaft broke. Because apparently the ocean decided, “You know what this ship needs? A mechanical problem in the Graveyard of the Atlantic.” 😳🚢

Wireless operator Theodore Haubner grabbed the radio and sent out an SOS distress signal—the first time an American ship used SOS. But since SOS was still pretty new, he also sent the older CQD signal…because when you're stranded at sea, apparently you don't want to leave any emergency abbreviations on the table. 😂📻

Thankfully, the message was received by the wireless station at Hatteras, and help was on the way. This little incident helped show how revolutionary wireless communication could be for saving lives at sea—and eventually, SOS became one of the most recognizable emergency signals in the world.
🎥 Want to know how three little letters became the universal cry for help? Watch today's History Dad video! And remember: if your propeller breaks, don't panic…just make sure Dad knows the Morse code. 😂

https://youtu.be/mHr3sSRE6rc

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