When it comes to making history, Long Islanders never hesitate to step up first (or fly, sail, or swipe their cards, as the case may be). Beyond beaches and bagels, the Island boasts an impressive collection of historical “firsts”—each groundbreaking event leaving its own quirky footprint on American history. Check out these impressive Long Island milestones:
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America’s First ATM (1969)
Yep, we can thank Long Island for the sweet convenience of getting cash at midnight without speaking to a single human. In 1969, Chemical Bank installed the nation’s very first ATM in Rockville Centre, forever changing late-night diner trips (and giving us yet another reason to procrastinate going into the bank).
Fun fact: The original ATM allowed customers to withdraw just $25 at a time—a humble but revolutionary start to 24-hour banking. - The First Video Game (1958)
In 1958, Brookhaven National Laboratory debuted Tennis for Two, an electronic tennis game widely considered one of the first video games ever created—predating Pong by more than a decade. Designed by physicist William Higinbotham using an analog computer and oscilloscope, the game let players control a bouncing ball with custom-built controllers at the lab’s open house. Though Higinbotham never patented it, Tennis for Two became a foundational moment in gaming history—and it all started on Long Island. Click here to read all about it! -
First Transatlantic Passenger Flight (1939)
Long before cramped economy seats, peanuts, and tray tables that refused to stay upright, Pan American World Airways took flight from Port Washington in June 1939. The Boeing 314 Dixie Clipper—a luxurious flying boat—carried passengers from Long Island across the Atlantic to Lisbon, Portugal.
Fun fact: Passengers enjoyed sleeping berths and fine dining, making transatlantic travel glamorous right from the start. -
Charles Lindbergh’s Historic Flight (1927)
On May 20, 1927, aviation legend Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field in Garden City, solo flying nonstop across the Atlantic to Paris. His daring flight earned him global fame, and the Island scored major bragging rights.
Fun fact: Lindbergh’s “Spirit of St. Louis” barely cleared the telephone wires at Roosevelt Field upon takeoff—talk about a close call! -
Long Island’s First Recorded Aircraft Flight (1896)
It wasn’t exactly a 747—but in 1896, a Lilienthal-type glider soared from the bluffs of Nassau County’s north shore, marking Long Island’s first recorded flight. Humble beginnings, sure, but every great flight starts with a single gust of wind. -
America’s First Supermarket (1930)
Leave it to Long Island to turn grocery shopping into an American pastime. King Kullen, opened in 1930, revolutionized shopping with a self-service grocery model. Suddenly, shoppers could browse aisles packed with everything from apples to zucchini under one convenient roof—though aisle rage at abandoned carts blocking shelves probably started here, too.
Fun fact: Founder Michael J. Cullen advertised supermarkets as “price-slashing wonders,” giving Depression-era families a break on their grocery bills. -
First English Settlement in New York (1640)
Southold, founded October 21, 1640, by Reverend John Youngs and settlers from New Haven, became the first English settlement in New York State.
Fun fact: The original settlers purchased their land from the local Corchaug tribe. -
America’s First Mass-Produced Suburb (1947)
Levittown in Nassau County exploded onto the scene after World War II, becoming the first mass-produced American suburb. Rows upon rows of identical homes symbolized the American Dream, giving birth to suburban life (and the eternal battle for the perfect lawn).
Fun fact: Levittown homes initially cost under $8,000 each, helping veterans returning from WWII realize their dreams of homeownership. -
First Transatlantic Flight by an Airship (1919)
Who doesn’t love a good blimp? In 1919, the British airship R34 landed at Roosevelt Field, completing the first east-to-west transatlantic airship flight. They crossed the Atlantic and chose Long Island as their landing spot—smart blimp pilots know a good bagel when they see one.
Fun fact: The historic flight took about 108 hours, making it an impressive feat of endurance and navigation.
Quick recap of these historical Long Island firsts:
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1969 – First ATM in America (Rockville Centre)
- 1958 – First video game invented at BNL
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1939 – First transatlantic passenger flight (Port Washington to Lisbon)
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1927 – Lindbergh’s historic nonstop flight to Paris from Roosevelt Field
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1896 – First recorded aircraft flight (Lilienthal glider, Nassau County’s north shore)
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1930 – America’s first supermarket (King Kullen)
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1640 – First English settlement in New York State (Southold)
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1947 – America’s first suburb (Levittown)
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1919 – First east-to-west transatlantic airship flight (R34 at Roosevelt Field)
From the skies above to the cash in your pocket, Long Island proves it’s always been a step ahead—though maybe we should’ve patented aisle rage prevention along the way, too.
Photo:Boeing Aircraft, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
