This map shows the path the Moon's dark inner shadow will take August 21, 2017. // Astronomy: Richard Talcott and Roen Kelly
While I was sitting in an
Astronomy story meeting yesterday, John Wenz, one of the other editors, asked the question, “When was the last time each of the 50 states saw totality?” Having spoken and written extensively about the eclipse (talks, podcasts, stories, blogs, even a book), I thought I’d heard every eclipse-related query. Not this one. Anyway, John’s question sent me into research mode, and the list below is what I discovered.
Please note that I’m using “states” here in the geographic, not the political, sense, meaning, “in the area currently designated as the state.” In other words, the date listed could be before that area of land officially became a state.
My special thanks go out to eclipse experts John Tilley and Michael Zeiler for helping me nail down the most distant state eclipse, that of Delaware. And also to Charles Fulco, who corrected my erroneous belief that totality during the 1970 eclipse touched only five states. His email to me added a sixth: Massachusetts.
Alabama June 8, 1918
Alaska July 20, 1963
Arizona June 16, 1806
Arkansas June 8, 1918
California April 28, 1930
Colorado June 8, 1918
Connecticut January 24, 1925
Delaware July 29, 1478
Florida March 7, 1970
Georgia March 7, 1970
Hawaii July 11, 1991
Idaho February 26, 1979
Illinois August 7, 1869
Indiana August 7, 1869
Iowa June 30, 1954
Kansas June 8, 1918
Kentucky August 7, 1869
Louisiana June 8, 1918
Maine July 20, 1963
Maryland March 7, 1970
Massachusetts March 7, 1970
Michigan June 30, 1954
Minnesota June 30, 1954
Mississippi June 8, 1918
Missouri August 7, 1869
Montana February 26, 1979
Nebraska June 30, 1954
Nevada April 28, 1930
New Hampshire August 31, 1932
New Jersey January 24, 1925
New Mexico July 29, 1878
New York January 24, 1925
North Carolina March 7, 1970
North Dakota February 26, 1979
Ohio June 16, 1806
Oklahoma June 8, 1918
Oregon February 26, 1979
Pennsylvania January 24, 1925
Rhode Island January 24, 1925
South Carolina March 7, 1970
South Dakota June 30, 1954
Tennessee August 7, 1869
Texas May 28, 1900
Utah January 11, 1880
Vermont August 31, 1932
Virginia March 7, 1970
Washington February 26, 1979
West Virginia August 7, 1869
Wisconsin June 30, 1954
Wyoming June 8, 1918