What Happened on March 1?

March 1 is when President Kennedy asked Americans to serve the world in the Peace Corps — and when Nebraska joined the Union wearing its new statehood badge!

• 1867 — Nebraska becomes the 37th U.S. state

  Nebraska officially joined the Union as the 37th state on March 1, 1867 — and it named its brand-new capital city Lincoln, after the president who had just been assassinated. Read the full story →

• 1961 — President Kennedy establishes the Peace Corps

  With Executive Order 10924, President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps — a team of American volunteers who live and work alongside people in countries around the world. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Ron Howard (1954) · Harry Belafonte (1927–2023) · Justin Bieber (1994)

Days & observances

St. David's Day · National Pig Day