- 1887March. The Korean Imperial Telegraphic Office (조선전보총국, 朝鮮電報總局) was opened for a more efficient management of the telegraphic lines operating in Korea. The office was in use until 1893, when it became into the Korean Imperial Telegraphic and Postal Office (전우총국, 電郵總局).
- 1887The first electric light in Korea is lit in Gyeongbokgung.
- 1887October. American missionary William B. Scranton establishes the first women's hospital, the Lillian Harris Memorial Hospital (보구여관,普救女館). Lillian Harris Memorial Hospital would become the predecessor to Ewha Womans University hospital. The hospital also operated the first medical class for women. One of the students went to the Woman's Medical College of Baltimore, becoming the first female doctor at Korea in 1900.
- 1888February. 1888, General William McEntyre Dye and two other military instructors arrived from the US, followed in May by a fourth instructor. The Americans taught at the first modern military academy called the Yeonmu-gongwon (연무공원, 鍊武公院) and trained many Koreans.
- 1888May. Korea independently constructs the Southern Cable Line (남로전선, 南路電線), connecting Hanseong and Busan.
- 1890January. The Korean Merchant's Association for Fairness is opened by Kim Jae-jun (김재전, 金在田), Lee Gun-seo (이군서, 李君瑞) and Park Myung-gyu (박명규, 朴明珪). The Association promoted usage of foreign weight and measurement standards in the domestic market. It had offices in Incheon, Wonsan and Busan.
- 1891February. The Korean Northern Cable Treaty (조선북로전선조약, 朝鮮北路電線條約) is signed by China and Korea. By this treaty, the telegraphic service from Seoul to Wonsan is in operation.
| - 1887河南郑州下汛十堡(今惠济区花园口镇石桥村)发生黄河决口,致使200多万(一说93万;一说最保守估计150万;一说700万)人罹难。
- 1887September — The Yellow River flood kills up to 2 million people and makes an additional 2 million homeless. At the time, it was the deadliest natural disaster ever recorded.
- 1891金丹道事件
- 1891Foreign businessmen established the Shanghai Sharebrokers' Association in Shanghai.
| - 大日本帝国憲法発布、東海道本線全線開通、任天堂建立、熊本地震。JA
- 1889年熊本地震
- 1887中央気象台発足。
- 1888市制町村制施行。枢密院設置。
- 1890November — The Constitution of the Empire of Japan (Meiji Constitution) was enacted. This turned Japan into a quasi-absolute monarchy with a representative democracy.
- 1891October — 1891 Mino–Owari earthquake: A strongest recorded inland earthquake of Japan.
| - North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Washington become statesEN
- Johnstown Flood in PennsylvaniaEN
- Jane Addams founds Hull HouseEN
- Wilcox rebellion of 1889EN
- Centennial of the Constitution celebrated.EN
- December 6, 1889 – Former Confederate president Jefferson Davis dies.EN
- Oklahoma Land Rush (April 22, 1889)EN
- During a speech given by Benjamin Harrison, he becomes the first U.S. president in history to have a voice recording.EN
- 1887The United States Congress creates Interstate Commerce Commission
- 1887Dawes Act
- 1887Crow War
- 1887Sonora earthquake
- 1887Thibodaux massacre
- 1887Hatch Act
- 1888National Geographic Society founded
- 1888U.S. presidential election, 1888: Benjamin Harrison elected president and Levi P. Morton vice president despite coming in second in the popular vote.
- 1888Publication of Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy
- 1888March 4, 1889 – Harrison becomes the 23rd president and Morton becomes the 22nd vice president
- 1890Wounded Knee Massacre
- 1890Idaho and Wyoming become states
- 1890Sherman Antitrust Act
- 1890Yosemite National Park created
- 1890Sherman Silver Purchase Act
- 1890Ghost Dance War
- 1890Jacob Riis published "How the Other Half Lives"
- 1890Drexel Mission Fight
- 1890National American Woman Suffrage Association founded
- 1890McKinley Tariff
- 1890Reporter Nelly Bly circles globe by train and steamship in 72 days
- 1891James Naismith invents basketball
- 1891Baltimore crisis
- 1891Hamlin Garland publishes Main-Travelled Roads
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