History Schmistory: January 27. “Isn’t the world awesome! Let’s start a club!”

Cover of the first edition, [public domain]

1888: The National Geographic Society is founded in Washington, D.C. by a collective of 33 explorers and scientists. Their mission: “To increase and diffuse geographic knowledge while promoting the conservation of the world’s cultural, historical, and natural resources.” Later the group added, “and yellow rectangles!”