January 4 – An Act to Regulate Appointments in the Marine Hospital Service of the United States is signed by PresidentGrover Cleveland. It establishes a Commissioned Corps of officers as a predecessor to the currentU.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
March – AGerman naval force shells a village inSamoa, destroying some American property; three American warships enter the Samoan harbor and prepare to fire on the three German warships found there. Before guns are fired, a hurricane blows in and sinks all the ships, American and German. A compulsoryarmistice is called because of the lack of warships.
March 2 – Congress proclaims the entireBering Sea, an importantseal breeding area, to be under US control.
April 22 – At high noon in Oklahoma Territory, thousands rush to claim land in theLand Rush of 1889. Within hours the cities ofOklahoma City andGuthrie are formed, with populations of at least 10,000.
May 15 – InSamoa, 3 U.S. and 3 German ships sink in atyphoon because the captains refuse to leave before the others; almost 200 drown. The British steamerCalliope saves itself by pushing into the wind with full speed.
August 1 – The New Hampshire Legislature issues a charter for incorporation of the Order of Saint Benedict of New Hampshire, foundation ofSaint Anselm College.
November 14 – Pioneer woman journalistNellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochrane) begins an attempt to beat travel around the world in less than 80 days, inspired byJules Verne; she finishes the journey in 72 days, 6 hours and 11 minutes.
November 23 – The firstjukebox goes into operation at the Palais Royale Saloon inSan Francisco.
October 29 – TheNew York Giants win their second consecutive World Series title by beating theBrooklyn Bridegrooms, 3–2, for their fifth straight win in taking the series 6 games to 3.
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