Boston Marathon facts

• The first Boston Marathon was run on April 19, 1897.
• The race was held on April 19, Patriots Day, every year from 1897 through 1968 except when the 19th fell on a Sunday in which case the race was held on Monday the 20th.
• In 1969, the Patriots Day holiday was officially moved to the third Monday in April.
• The race distance was 24.5 miles from 1897 through 1926. In 1927, the race was lengthened to the Olympic distance of 26 miles, 385 yards.
• The first "official" woman entrant was accepted for the 1972 race. Women had run on an unofficial "bandit" basis several times previously.

Source: http://www.bostonmarathon.org/BostonMarathon/History.asp