Celebrate the Century - 1900s

Immigrants Arrive
Ellis Island was the nation's principal immigration station between 1892 and 1954. During the peak decade, 1900-1909, immigrants arrived on an average of 100 an hour.

Ash Can Painters
The painters of the Ash Can School portrayed the life and scenes around them. One of the most famous Ash Can paintings is Stag at Sharkey's (detail by George Bellows), at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

John Muir, Preservationist
Often referred to as a father of national parks, John Muir was a naturalist who championed the wilderness and its preservation.

W.E.B. Du Bois, Social Activist
An educator and author, W.E.B. Du Bois promoted the cause for equality for all Americans. He helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Model T Ford
The low-priced, 4-cylinder, 20-horsepower Model T Ford made the automobile more affordable for the average American. One of its nicknames was Tin Lizzie.

1904 St. Louis World's Fair
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904 was also known as the St. Louis World's Fair. Americans were already enjoying ice cream, but the ice cream cone was popularized at the fair.

Kitty Hawk 1903
On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, achieved the first controlled, powered flight in an airplane.

Robie House, Chicago
Frank Lloyd Wright is considered one of the nation's most innovative architects. The masterpiece of his early work, constructed in the Prairie House style, is the Robie House in Chicago.

"Teddy" Bear Created
America's "teddy" bear was created in 1902. A cartoon depicting President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt's refusal to shoot a captured bear while hunting in Mississippi is said to have inspired its creation.

First World Series
The championship games of 1903 are considered baseball's first (modern-day) World Series. Boston of the American League beat Pittsburgh of the National League 5 games to 3 in a best-of-nine series.

1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act
The Pure Food and Drugs Act of 1906 prohibited the interstate sale of any adulterated or misbranded food or drug.

Gibson Girl
Created by illustrator Charles Dana Gibson, the Gibson Girl set the fashion for the ideal American woman at the turn of the century.

Crayola Crayons 1903
The first box of Crayola crayons was produced in 1903. It cost five cents and contained eight colors: black, brown, blue, red, violet, orange, yellow and green.

President Theodore Roosevelt
The 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt promoted conservation, regulated business and earned the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese War.

"The Great Train Robbery" 1903
"The Great Train Robbery," directed by Edwin S. Porter in 1903, was one of the most successful story films. This box-office hit became part of the Western genre.