What was the occasion for the first ticker tape parade in New York City?

In New York City, the term originated after a spontaneous celebration was held on October 28, 1886, during the dedication of the Statue of Liberty. To note special occasions, soon after the first parade in 1886, city officials realized the utility of the events and began to hold them on triumphal occasions, such as the return of Theodore Roosevelt from his African safari, Gertrude Ederle swimming the English Channel, and Charles Lindbergh's Trans-Atlantic flight. The first individual to be honored with a ticker tape parade was Admiral George Dewey, hero of the Battle of Manila Bay in 1899.

In the early 21st century, such parades became far more infrequent in New York. They were largely limited to championship sports teams, celebrations of the return of astronauts, and military troops returning from a combat campaign in one of the world's hotspots for war. In 2003, New York City marked the parade route with over 200 thin black granite markers, noting each parade with the date and a brief description. This is a New York version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.