1890 Facts for Kids

The year 1890 was a time of many changes and new ideas around the world. People were exploring new ways to travel, creating amazing buildings, and making important discoveries. It was also a year when many famous people were born and some well-known figures passed away.

Famous Births
Notable Deaths
Key Events
Images for kids
See also

Famous Births

March 3 – Norman Bethune: He was a Canadian doctor who became famous for his work as a surgeon and for helping people during wars.
May 19 – Ho Chi Minh: He grew up to become a very important leader of Viet Nam.
August 24 – Duke Kahanamoku: An American athlete who was a great swimmer and helped make surfing popular around the world.
October 14 – Dwight D. Eisenhower: He later became a famous general in World War II and then the President of the United States.
December 5 – Fritz Lang: An Austrian movie director who made many important films.

Notable Deaths

April 11 – Joseph Merrick: He was an English man known as the 'Elephant Man'. He lived with a rare condition that caused unusual growths on his body.

Joseph Merrick, known as the 'Elephant Man'

July 29 – Vincent van Gogh: A very famous Dutch painter whose unique style changed art forever.

A self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh

Key Events

January 15 – The famous ballet The Sleeping Beauty, created by Tchaikovsky, was performed for the very first time.
January 25 – Nellie Bly, a brave journalist, finished her amazing trip around the world in just 72 days! She traveled faster than the fictional character Phileas Fogg from the book Around the World in Eighty Days.

Nellie Bly after her record-breaking trip

March 4 – The Forth Bridge was officially opened in Scotland. It was a huge and impressive railway bridge, considered a wonder of engineering at the time.

The Forth Bridge in Scotland

May 31 – The Cleveland Arcade opened in the United States. It was one of the first indoor shopping malls in the country, with beautiful architecture.

Inside the Cleveland Arcade

June 1 – Herman Hollerith started his own company. He invented a machine that could count information using punch cards, which was a very early step towards modern computers.