08/17/2026
Learn Our History Today:
🗓️On August 17, 1786, famous frontiersman David “Davy” Crockett was born in Greene County, Tennessee. Over the course of his lifetime, Crockett became an American folk hero,
and his exploits have since accorded with almost mythical status. Davy Crockett spent much of his childhood in the mountains of East Tennessee, where he honed his skills as a hunter and woodsman. He then joined a group of Tennessee Volunteers during the War of 1812 time period, serving as a scout during fighting with the Creeks. Following the Creek War, Davy served in the Tennessee State Legislature and then the U.S. Congress.
🗳️While serving in Congress he was constantly in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson, especially the Indian Removal Act. This was highly unusual as both were from the same state and shared similar backgrounds. Davy’s opposition to Jackson led to him not being reelected in the 1834 elections. Angered greatly by this failure, Davy decided to depart to the pristine country that was the Mexican state of Tejas. In early 1836, Davy Crockett won immortality for himself by participating in the Texas Revolution. He famously took part in the Battle of the Alamo, in which he and fellow Texan soldiers defended the fort down to the last man. The battle won for Davy everlasting fame, but at the cost of his life.
📖While he was alive, Davy Crockett gained great renown largely from several plays and books that were written about his life. They told of his numerous frontier exploits, such as hunting and fighting Indians. For the most part, his actions were incredibly embellished and accorded with an almost mythical status. Later during the 20th Century, Davy Crockett and the legend surrounding him once again became extremely prominent in popular culture. Numerous movies and TV shows have dealt with the life of Davy Crockett, and he is without a doubt one of those most prominent figures of the American frontier. 📺
Also, on this day in U.S. history:
1903: The Pulitzer Prizes begin in America when Joe Pulitzer donates $1 million to Columbia.
1959: 7.1 earthquake strikes Yellowstone National Park.
