Tobacco Avenue: History

1492- This was year then Christopher Columbus, during his famous raveling to Americas gather tobacco as a gift from the Arawak people of the Bahamas.

1556- for the first time European explorers introduced tobacco to France. Soon it was widely spread in entire Europe.

1571- Spanish doctor named Nicolas Monardes edited a book about the history of medicinal plants of the new world. In this book were declared that tobacco plant could cure around 36 health problems.

1600’s- during this period tobacco was estimated on same value as gold. Also it was frequently used as money. Tobacco was literally "as good as gold!"

1612 - Tobacco plant is started to be planted in America.

1619- First African slaves were brought to Jamestown, Virginia, to work the tobacco plantations.

1661 -Slavery was officially legalized in Virginia.

1730 – In Virginia was opened first tobacco factories "snuff mills"

1760- Pierre Lorillard founded a company in New York City that ought to process tobacco, cigars, and snuff. This company still exists and works. It is the oldest tobacco company in the Unite States.

1776 –beginning of the American Revolution that was, in part a “tobacco war”, that occurred along the Chesapeake Bay, also called the “Tobacco Coast”. Cause of war was debts to British merchants. Tobacco was cause, but it also brings the resolution. It helped finance the Revolution by serving as collateral for loans from France.

1847- Renowned Phillip Morris Tobacco Company was established. At beginning, it used to sell hand rolled Turkish cigarettes.

1861 – The Civil War started. Due to fact that tobacco was issued along with rations of food and drink, it was introduced to the northern part, where tobacco was something unknown. In this period were highly practiced pipes and cigars smoking. Innovative factor was the introduction of cigarettes.

1864 – As it was expected, was opened door of the first cigarette factory in the United States and so begin the cigarette production.

1875- R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (better known for its Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil) began a new producing, chewing tobacco.

In 1902- British Phillip Morris opened its headquarters in New York City and initiated sale of its cigarettes, including well-known Marlboro brand.

1910 – In United States the cigarette use grow to 94 cigarettes per year per person.

1913- Cigarettes were high demanded products by society, and R.J. Reynolds began to market a cigarette brand called Camel.

1917 - The U.S. War Department dispatch massive numbers of cigarettes to World War I soldiers.

1939- was introduced new cigarette brand, called Pall Mall, that make its producer, American Tobacco Company to develop into the largest tobacco company in the U.S.

1940 – In US were registered another increase of tobacco smokers. In that year per capita cigarette consumption reached quantity of 2,558 per year.

1954- Appeared first filtered brand, Winston cigarettes, produced by RJ Reynolds introduces the filtered Winston brand.

1956- Reynolds set up first filter-tipped menthol cigarette, the Salem cig’ brand.

1971- For the first time were introduced warnings on cigarette packs.

80's -90's- Tobacco began to be advertised outside the US, almost in developing countries of Asia. Also in this period, Marlboro was considered the word's No. 1 most valuable brand of any product with a value over $30 billion! As well, this period became famous for the battle between Coca Cola and Marlboro as the No. 1 brand in the world!