March 29, 2026 — Today is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, a reminder that a lot of the economy still runs on small shops, family businesses, and people who decided working for themselves might actually be easier.

Today we’re looking at a few moments where small actions—and natural forces—had surprisingly large ripple effects.

First, the founding of New Sweden in 1638, a small colony that helped introduce the log cabin to North America.

Then, the bizarre day in 1848 when Niagara Falls nearly stopped flowing after an ice jam blocked the river—leaving the riverbed exposed and the falls eerily quiet.

And finally, the first batch of Coca-Cola brewed in 1886 by pharmacist John Pemberton, a simple experiment that would grow into one of the most recognizable brands in the world.

Plus, a quick look at John Tyler, whose presidency helped define what happens when a U.S. president dies in office.

Different events. Different centuries. But each one shows how small moments can ripple outward in unexpected ways.

Anyway… those are a few of the things I ended up discovering while wandering through March 29.