The Case for Humboldt Day
On September 14th, 1869, tens of thousands of Americans crowded into streets across the country to celebrate the centennial of German polymath, Alexander Von Humboldt’s birth. Portraits of Humboldt were draped off buildings next to American flags, an estimated 25,000 speeches were delivered, and cities were doused in music, banquets, and jubilee until long past nightfall. In some cities, this continued for three days.
Boston held multiple celebrations, one being attended by the Mayor, both of the state’s Senators, and the Governor. While speaking in Buffalo, former President, Millard Fillmore, gleefully recalled the story of a conversation he had with Humboldt. Syracuse, NY held a mile-long parade attended by 15,000 people. The celebrations united the still recovering country, as even Memphis, an economic center of the American Confederacy only 3 years earlier, was also taken by the celebration of Humboldt, a man dedicated to the eradication of slavery....