This day in history: National Weather Service -- a longtime dream of a Milwaukee scientist -- founded today

Increase Lapham

On this day in Wisconsin history, the National Weather Service was instituted by President Ulysses S. Grant. While many of us enjoy the advantages of having a NWS on a daily basis, few of us might realize the Wisconsin roots that the service has.

From the Wisconsin Historical Society:

On this date President Ulysses S. Grant signed a joint resolution authorizing a National Weather Service, which had long been a dream of Milwaukee scientist Increase Lapham. Lapham, 19th-century Wisconsin's premier natural scientist, proposed a national weather service after he mapped data contributed over telegraph lines in the Upper Midwest and realized that weather might be predicted in advance. He was concerned about avoiding potential disasters to Great Lakes shipping and Wisconsin farming, and his proposal was approved by Congress and authorized on this date.

And you thought today was just another Monday.