Hello Friends!

This week I’m a few days late, but I’m still here! It’s been a rough week, but life is full of twists, turns, and a few bumps in the road. I appreciate you being along for this bumpy journey.

With America's 250th anniversary next month, I'm sharing a few fun stories from our nation's history in the weeks ahead.

As America celebrated its first 50 years (1826–1876) of independence, the nation experienced growth, unforgettable characters, and some strange moments.

In the early 1830s, when Abraham Lincoln was in his early 20s, he was known as an excellent wrestler. It’s estimated that he competed in nearly 300 matches and lost only one.

Mark Twain’s wild adventures began as a riverboat pilot, miner, journalist, and world traveler before becoming famous. His stories about frontier life blended humor with real events, making him one of America’s most beloved writers. He was born on November 30, 1835, and shaped a national voice of American literature even to this day with his vivid descriptions of frontier life.

Gold Fever Strikes! In 1848, gold was discovered in California, starting the famous California Gold Rush. The peak rush was between 1849 and 1852, when about 275,000 people hopped on wagons headed to California. The majority of people chasing the gold rush didn’t become wealthy. The merchants selling mining supplies made more money than the miners themselves. This is known as one of the fastest population explosions in U.S. history.

In the 1850s, the U.S. Army imported dozens of camels in what they called the Great Camel Experiment. They thought the camels would be perfect for transporting supplies. The animals actually performed well, but soldiers disliked working with them, and the project ended. For a brief period, camels roamed freely in the frontier.

In April 1860, the Pony Express was the fastest mail service of its time. The horseback riders raced nearly 2,000 miles between Missouri and California in about 10 days. The Pony Express lasted only 18 months and ended in October 1861. It was short-lived, but became one of the most legendary mail services.

Abraham Lincoln officially became president on March 4, 1861. He had very little formal schooling but was known for writing powerful speeches. The Gettysburg Address, written in 1863, is one of the most famous speeches in U.S. history. Lincoln’s famous hat was also functional; he used it as a filing cabinet, storing notes, letters, and speeches inside it. His presidency sadly ended when he was assassinated in 1865.

The first Thanksgiving football game happened long before the NFL. In 1876, college football started to gain popularity while schools were still arguing about the rules. Players often left the field bruised and muddy, and most games looked similar to rugby.

It’s crazy how some history never seems to fade and is carried down from generation to generation, but then other pieces of history seem to get buried in the dust.

Sunday, June 14th

Monday, June 15th

Take time to slow down and refresh your mind.

Tuesday, June 16th

Wednesday, June 17th

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Thu, June 11: Hot and humid with a chance of afternoon storms — 91° / 79°
Fri, June 12: Partly sunny, warm, and muggy — 90° / 79°
Sat, June 13: Summer heat with scattered afternoon thunderstorms — 91° / 77°
Sun, June 14: Mix of sun and clouds, humid — 90° / 79°
Mon, June 15: Warm with increasing storm chances — 90° / 77°
Tue, June 16: Showers and thunderstorms possible — 91° / 75°
Wed, June 17: Slightly cooler with clouds and scattered rain — 91° / 77°

We've officially reached the season where stepping outside feels like opening the dishwasher mid-cycle. Expect plenty of heat, humidity, and the usual Gulf Coast game of "Will it rain on my side of town?" ☀️⛈️🌴

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Spot construction or a new development? Sent us a message and we’ll dig up the details! Know a hometown person or business that deserves a spotlight? Send us the details! Have something you’d love to see each week? Send us your suggestions, and we’ll do our best to make it happen. 🐝[email protected]

Just remember, we’re only human, but we’ll do our best to make this your newsletter.

The Galveston Bay Buzz 🐝

Jessica Johnson

Publisher/Founder

If you’re a local photographer and would like the opportunity to feature your local photos in an upcoming newsletter, please send them to [email protected].

We’d love to showcase your work!