1870: Transcontinental Railway actually completed

1870: John D Rockefeller incorporates Standard Oil

1870: Brooklyn Bridge construction begins; completed 13 years later

1870: A Thomas Nast cartoon first depicts democrats as donkeys

1870: First African-American US senator (Hiram R Revels)

1870: The US Weatherbureau makes its first meteorilogical observations

1870: Joseph H. Rainey of So. Carolina is the first black lawmaker to be sworn in to the US House
of Representatives.

1870: Secretary of State Hamilton Fisk declares the 15th amendment to the US Constitution in full
effect allowing a citizen of any race to vote or run for public office

1869: Suez Canal opens (Egypt)

1869: "Folies-Bergère" opens in Paris France

1869: Waffle-iron patented by Cornelius Swarthout of Troy NY

1869: 1st traincarload of freight (boots & shoes) arrives in San Francisco from Boston

1869: Postage stamps showing scenes are 1st issued

1869: In Promontory Utah, a golden spike is driven signifying the completion of the first US transcontenental
railroad.