April–June April 6 – The American Museum of Natural History is founded in New York. April 17 – The State of Morelos is created in Mexico. May – In elections in France, the opposition, consisting of republicans, monarchists and liberals, polls almost 45% of the vote in national elections. May 4–10 – Naval Battle of Hakodate: The Imperial Japanese Navy defeats adherents of the Tokugawa shogunate. May 6 – Purdue University is founded in West Lafayette, Indiana. May 10 – The first transcontinental railroad in North America is completed at Promontory, Utah, by the driving of the "golden spike".thumb|May 10 – The First transcontinental railroad in North America is completed May 15 – Women's suffrage: In New York, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton form the National Woman Suffrage Association. May 18 – One day after surrendering at the land Battle of Hakodate (begun 4 December 1868), Enomoto Takeaki turns over Goryōkaku to Japanese forces, signaling the collapse of the Republic of Ezo. May 22 – Sainsbury's first store, in Drury Lane, London, is opened. May 24 – John Wesley Powell departs Green River, Wyoming, with a company of 9 other men, on a trip down the Green and Colorado Rivers. May 26 – Boston University is chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. June 1 – The Cincinnati Red Stockings open the baseball season as the first fully professional team. June 2 – Sherwood College is founded in Nainital, India. June 15 – John Wesley Hyatt patents celluloid in Albany, New York. June 27 – The fortress of Goryōkaku is turned over to Imperial Japanese forces, bringing an end to the Republic of Ezo, the Battle of Hakodate and the Boshin War, the military phase of the Meiji Restoration. June 30–July 2 – The first Estonian Song Festival takes place in Tartu.
April–June April 6 – The American Museum of Natural History is founded in New York. April 17 – The State of Morelos is created in Mexico. May – In elections in France, the opposition, consisting of republicans, monarchists and liberals, polls almost 45% of the vote in national elections. May 4–10 – Naval Battle of Hakodate: The Imperial Japanese Navy defeats adherents of the Tokugawa shogunate. May 6 – Purdue University is founded in West Lafayette, Indiana. May 10 – The first transcontinental railroad in North America is completed at Promontory, Utah, by the driving of the "golden spike".thumb|May 10 – The First transcontinental railroad in North America is completed May 15 – Women's suffrage: In New York, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton form the National Woman Suffrage Association. May 18 – One day after surrendering at the land Battle of Hakodate (begun 4 December 1868), Enomoto Takeaki turns over Goryōkaku to Japanese forces, signaling the collapse of the Republic of Ezo. May 22 – Sainsbury's first store, in Drury Lane, London, is opened May 24 – John Wesley Powell departs Green River, Wyoming, with a company of 9 other men, on a trip down the Green and Colorado Rivers May 26 – Boston University is chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. June 1 – The Cincinnati Red Stockings open the baseball season as the first fully professional team. June 2 – Sherwood College is founded in Nainital, India. June 15 – John Wesley Hyatt patents celluloid in Albany, New York. June 27 – The fortress of Goryōkaku is turned over to Imperial Japanese forces, bringing an end to the Republic of Ezo, the Battle of Hakodate and the Boshin War, the military phase of the Meiji Restoration. June 30–July 2 – The first Estonian Song Festival takes place in Tartu.