Today in History August 24, 0079  Mount Vesuvius erupts burying the city of Pompeii and Hurculaneum, Italy  in Volcanic Ash and killing all inhabitants. Pompeii was not discovered until 1787
Today in History  August 25,1910 The Yellow Cab Company was born.  The first cabs with meters installed were Model J Fords
Today in History August 26, 1936 Today was the first televised Major League Baseball game. The game was between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers
Today in History August 27, 1962 The United States launched the Mariner Space Probe The Probe was to investigate the planet Venus
Today in History August 28, 1963 Today Martin Luther King Jr. Gave his famous “I have a dream” speech The speech was given at the Lincoln Memorial in front of Civil Rights Protestors
Today in History August 31, 1997  Britain's Princess Diana was killed in an automobile accident. Her death was blamed on the photographers who followed her every move.
Today in History  September 1, 1939 Today was the beginning of World War II The German army under Adolph Hitler invaded the country of Poland
Today in History September 2, 1789 The United States Treasury Department was established The first Treasury secretary was Alexander Hamilton
Today in History September 3, 1783 The treaty of Paris was signed ending the Revolutionary War The war that had started in 1775 gave American Freedom from Great Britain
Today in History September 4, 1972 American swimmer Mark Spitz won his seventh Olympic gold medal at the Munich Olympic Games.  His record stood until it was broken by Michael Phelps in the 2008 Olympics
Today in History September 8, 1900  A category 4 hurricane struck Galveston, Texas  The death toll reached 8,000
Today in History  September 9, 1956 Singer Elvis Presley appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show This was the first time the singer was on television
Today in History On September 10, 1953 Swanson sells the first TV Dinner. The first one came in aluminum tray and had to be heated in an oven as microwaves were not yet sold. The dinner had Turkey, sweet potato and peas
Today in History On September 11, 2001 terrorist hijack American Airliners and attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The death toll 3,000 or more.  This was the worst act of terror on American Soil
Today in History September 14, 1901 Today President William McKinley  died from a gunshot wound  Buffalo, New York. His Vice President, Theodore Roosevelt became the President.
Today in History  September 15, 1935 Nazi Germany passed the Nuremberg Laws. These laws took away the citizenship of all Jews in Germany The Swastika became the official emblem of Nazi Germany
Today in History September 12, 1992 Dr. Mae Jamison became the first African American woman in space. She was aboard the 50 th  shuttle mission on the shuttle Endeavour.
Today in History On September 16, 1630, the Massachusetts town of Shawmut changed its name to Boston Boston was founded by the Puritan religious group. Boston was the home of many of America’s famous revolutionaries
Today in History September 17, 1862 marked the bloodiest day in United States Military History During the American Civil War the battle of Antietam took place in Virginia.  More than 23,000 soldiers were killed or wounded in this battle alone. The seen of this battle has been set aside as a National Monument to those who died there.
Today in History September 18, 1904, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Glidden become the first people to cross the Rocky Mountains in an automobile.  The couple drove from Boston, MA to Vancouver, Canada in a 24 horse power Napier. The trip was over 3,000 miles.
Today in History September 21, 1981 Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton gets his 3,118 th  strike out. This breaks the Major League Baseball record of Bob Gibson. Carlton’s record breaking strikeout came in a game with the Montréal Expos.
Today in History  September 22, 1776 Nathan Hale, a Revolutionary War hero, was hanged by the British as a spy. Hale was sent to get information from the British and when his true mission was discovered he was hanged. He is famous for his last words, “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”
Today in History September 24, 1991 Dr. Seuss died at the age of 87.  Dr. Seuss was really Theodore Geisel and at the time of his death he had written forty-six children’s books.  His books have been translated into 20 languages including Braille for the blind.
Today in History On September 23, 1846 a German astronomer discovered the planet Neptune. Johann Gottfried Galle used calculations made by other astronomers to locate Neptune near other known planets. Neptune remained much of a mystery for the next 100 years.
Today in History September 25, 1981  Sandra Day O’Connor was sworn in as the first female Supreme Court Justice. O’Connor was nominated by President Ronald Reagan and served on the highest court in America for 25 years.
Today in History On September 29, 1542  Portuguese explorer, Juan Cabrillo arrived in present day San Diego, California. He arrived from Mexico where he had participated in the conquest of the Aztec Empire.  The spot where he landed is today Cabrillo National Monument
Today in History  September 29, 1988  The space shuttle Discovery was launched from Kennedy Space Center This was the first mission flown after the Challenger Disaster in January 1986. This shuttle launched the Hubble Telescope into space.
Today in History September 30, 1955 actor  James Dean was killed in a car crash on a California highway. Dean became famous for starring in the films and on the Broadway stage.  He won an Academy Award after his death.  Dean was so popular that the world mourned his passing as they did with Michael Jackson.
Today in History October 1, 1971 Walt Disney World opened in Orlando, Fl.  Also, on October 1, 1982 Epcot Center opened at Walt Disney World. Although the Park was started by Walt Disney, he did not live to see it completed.  Disney World is the largest theme park in the world.
Today in History October 2, 1950, the comic strip Peanuts first appeared in newspapers. The comic was created by Charles M. Schulz and was read by over 300 million people in 75 countries. The World fell in love with Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and their pet beagle, Snoopy.
Today in History October 5, 1947, the first televised speech from the White House was made by President Harry S. Truman. In his speech he urged Americans to  stop eating meat on Thursdays and Chicken on Sundays to help the starving people of the world.
Today in History  October 6, 1927 the first full-length talking motion pictured debuted in movie theaters. The move, The Jazz Singer, starred Al Jolson. The film has been remade several times since, once starring Neil Diamond.
Today in History October 7, 2003, the Governor of California was removed from office and actor, body builder, Arnold  Schwarzenegger   was elected for the office.  Schwarzenegger was then re-elected in November of 2006 and remains governor at the present.
Today in History October 8, 1871, the great Chicago Fire started.  The fire burned for 2 days and killed hundreds of people.  The fire destroyed 4 square miles of downtown Chicago. History says that the fire was started when Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern and started the barn a blaze.
Today in History October 9, 1940 musician John Lennon was born in Liverpool. England.  Lennon wrote most of the beetles famous songs Lennon was shot and killed by a mentally unstable fan in 1980.
Today in History October 12, 1942 was the first time the pledge of Allegiance was recited in Public schools across America.  The Pledge was written by Francis Bellamy to celebrate Columbus Day.  The words “In God we trust” were added in 1954.
Today in History  October 13, 1792 the cornerstone for the White House was laid in Washington, DC The house was finished in 1800 and John Adams was the first president to live in the house  The name, White was not used until 1901
Today in History October 14, 1947 U.S. Air Force, pilot Chuck Yeager became the first human to travel faster than the speed of sound.  Yeager went on to fly many successful missions during World War II and to win many honors.
Today in History On October 15, 1951 the I Love Lucy Show made its debut on television. The show starred Lucille Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz.  In the show Lucy always caused people to laugh by her funny antics.  The show lasted for six years, but you can see Lucy any day on cable Television.
Today in History On October 16, 1793 French queen, Marie Antoinette was convicted of treason against the French government She  was beheaded on the guillotine in Versailles, France Marie is famous for saying “Let them Eat Cake”
Today in History October 19, 1957 Montreal Canadiens hockey player “Rocket” Richard became the first National Hockey League player to score 500 goals in his career.  His 500 th  goal was scored in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks  Rocket was known as the Babe Ruth of Hockey
Today in History  October 20, 1803 the United States Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase from France. This purchase of land doubled the size of the United States and opened the west to settlers
Today in History October 21, 1973 the Sydney Opera House was finally opened to the public The construction took fifteen years and cost $80 million. The Opera House was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth  The first performance was  War and Peace
Today in History October 22, 1962  was the beginning of the Cuban Missile Crises.  A U.S. spy plane discovered Russian missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy ordered a blockade of Cuba by the United States Navy. The crises lasted seven days and finally the Russians removed the missiles.
Today in History. . . October 23, 1915 over 25,000 women marched up Fifth Ave in New York City demanding the right to vote. The women known as suffragettes finally won the right to vote when the 19 th  Amendment to the Constitution was passed in 1920.
Today in History October 26, 2005 the Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros in the world Series. This was the first World Series win for the White Sox in 88 years.
Today in History  October 27, 1787 was the date of publication of  the Federalist Papers .  The papers called for ratification of the new United States Constitution The papers were authored by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.  These three men were important in the founding of our government
Today in History October 28, 1886 was the date for the dedication of the Statue of Liberty.  President Grover Cleveland accepted the statue as a gift from France and it was erected in New York Harbor.  The statue was created by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and cost the French people $250,000 to build.
Today in History October 29,1656 was the birth date of Sir Edmund Halley.  Halley was a famous astronomer and studied the movement of the moon and the stars.  His most famous work was on comets and he predicted when a certain comet would be visible  This comet became known as Halley’s Comet
Today in History November 2,1889 South Dakota and North became the 39 th  and 40 th  states of the union. Both North and South Dakota were discovered by the French.  The states were sold to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase.  Lewis and Clark explored both states with their Corps of Discovery.
Today in History  November 3, 1992  Carol Moseley-Braun   became the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate. Braun was a resident of Chicago and served as the ambassador to New Zealand after leaving the Senate.
Today in History November 4, 1922 The tomb of Egypt’s famous King  Tutankhamen   was discovered. Howard Carter, an English Egyptologist, discovered the tomb in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt. The contents of the tomb, including the mummy are now on display in Cairo, Egypt.
Today in History. . . November 5, 1994 George Foreman became the oldest Heavyweight boxer to win a Championship title. He knocked out the other boxer in the 10 th  round of the match.  George is most famous for selling his grill design.  He is also a minister.
Today in History November 6, 1869 the first soccer game between two college teams (intercollegiate) took place.  This game was played in New Jersey and was between Princeton and Rutgers Universities.  The game was won by Rutgers 6 to Princeton’s 4
Today in History November 9, 1938 German Nazis looted and burned Jewish businesses in Austria and Germany.  This became known as the  Kristallnacht , meaning crystal night because of all the broken glass in the streets. 91 Jewish people were killed and many more injured and thousands of businesses and synagogues were destroyed
Today in History  November 10, 1969 Sesame Street premiered on television. The show has won 122 Emmy Awards and is seen in more than 120 countries and territories around the world.
Today in History November 11, 1620 the Mayflower Compact was signed by all men aboard the Mayflower  The Compact was the first written form of self government in the United States. The document stated that rules and laws would be made for the good of all in the new colony. Our current constitution is based on this document
Today in History. . . November 12, 1954 the Immigration Station on Ellis Island stopped accepting immigrants to America.  During its’ 62 years of operation more than 20 million immigrants passed through the station on their way to a new life.  Ellis Island now houses a museum honoring America’s immigrants.
Today in History November 13, 1940 Walt Disney’s Fantasia debuted in theaters. This animated film had no dialogue and featured classical music.  The film only played in 12 theaters due to all of the audio equipment it took to project the film in stereophonic sound, a new innovation.
Today in History November 16, 1864 General William Tecumseh Sherman and his troops began their “March to the Sea” through Georgia. They cut a deadly path from Atlanta to Savannah and left everything burned and destroyed in between.  This was an effort to break the spirit of the south during the American Civil War.
Today in History  November 17, 1869 the Suez Canal opened in Egypt.  This canal joined the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. The canal makes it possible for ships to navigate through Egypt without going around The African Continent.
Today in History November 30, 1995 President Bill Clinton became the first US president to visit Northern Ireland. His visit was important because he urged the Protestant and Catholics to settle their differences after years of fighting .
Today in History  December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks was asked to give her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama Rosa refused to give her seat and was arrested and put into the local jail. She suffered the loss of her job because of this action and had to leave her home to find work.  Her protest earned her a Congressional Medal of Honor later in her life.
Today in History December 2,  1982 Barney Clark was the first person to receive an artificial heart transplant .  Clark was near death when he received the heart invented by Dr. Richard Jarvik.  He lived for 112 hours with the heart.
Today in History. . . December 3, 1609 Galileo Galilei, an Italian mathematician, astronomer and physicist, is credited with inventing the first complete astronomical telescope. He was the first to turn the telescope to the skies. Galileo's telescope had a power of 40, and he was able to view mountains on the moon, Jupiter's moons and many stars with it.
Today in History December 5, 1816 James Madison was elected the fifth President of the United States by the electoral college. Madison was considered the Father of the Constitution as he created the plan for the current form of government. He was president during the War of 1812
Today in History On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked the U.S. military bases in Pearl Harbor, HI.  The air attack that would leave over 2,280 military personnel and sixty-eight civilians dead and over 1,109 people wounded. Nineteen naval vessels were destroyed, including eight battleships.  The cause of the attack was a breakdown in political talks between Japan and the US. The attack on Pearl Harbor led to the entry of the U.S. into World War II.
Today in History  December 8, 1980, former Beatles member John Lennon was shot and killed in front of his Manhattan apartment building.  The shooter was an obsessed fan, Mark David Chapman, to whom Lennon had given an autograph earlier that day.  John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were the four members of the Liverpool (England) rock band the Beatles.
Today in History. . . Doug Engelbart, inventor of the computer mouse, gave the first demonstration of the mouse on December 9, 1968 . The computer tasks that could be accomplished using a mouse paved the way for modern interactive computers and the development of Microsoft's Windows operating systems. Englebart was also a key figure in the development of the Internet .
Today in History Alfred Bernhard Nobel, a Swedish chemist and inventor, died on December 10, 1896 . He invented several types of explosives. Nobel sought to invent a safer explosive following a number of explosions that resulted in many deaths. In his will he wanted his money to be used as awards to be given annually in the areas of literature, physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, and the promotion of international peace .
Today in History  December 15, 1903  Italian immigrant Italo Marcioni invented the ice cream cone. The cone became popular at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, where several ice cream vendors sold their wares in cones. Controversy surrounds the cone because an ice cream vendor named Charles Menches also independently "invented" it at the World's Fair
Today in History December 14, 1911  Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer, became the first man to reach the South Pole  Using dog sleds, which allowed him to travel fifteen miles a day through sub-zero temperatures, Amundsen arrived thirty-five days before another explorer, Robert F. Scott  He had decided to explore Antarctica once he realized that Robert F. Perry had departed for the North Pole
Today in History. . . December 16, 1773  to protest the British import tax on tea, a group of fifty to sixty "Sons of Liberty" dressed themselves as Mohawk Indians, boarded three British ships in Boston Harbor, and emptied their cargoes (tea) into the water.  The Boston Tea Party was one of several events that led up to the American Revolution .
Today in History December 17, 1903  As his brother Wilbur watched, Orville Wright took off from a field in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. His plane was in the air twelve seconds, flying 120 feet.  It was the first time anyone at all had left the ground to fly in a heavier-than-air, self-powered flying machine.
Today in History December 18, 1865:  The thirteenth amendment, which abolished slavery, had been ratified earlier in December, 1865, and went into effect on this date. The amendment states that, “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude … shall exist within the United States
Today in History  January 4, 1996 General Motors announced plans for a fall release of the non-polluting EV-1, its first electric car to be sold in the United States. GM sold the EV-1 through its Saturn dealerships  The EV-1 became the best-selling electric consumer car of its time.
Today in History January 5, 1914  Henry Ford amazed the world when he announced that he would pay his automobile workers $5.00 per day plus a share of $10 million from the previous year's profits. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the buying power of $1.00 in 1914 was like the buying power of $19.10 today  That means, by today’s standards, Ford paid his workers the equivalent of $95.50 per day
Today in History. . . January 6, 1963  Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom , with Marlin Perkins, premiered on the NBC television network  It was one of the first wildlife series on TV. The pioneering show took viewers to the far corners of the world and revealed wildlife in its natural habitat  Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom  won forty-one major awards, including four Emmys
Today in History . January 7, 1789 The United States of America held its first election for president  No one knew who had won until a month later.  After voters in each state chose only their electors, they voted for president.  The votes cast by the electors were counted by Congress.  The person with the most votes, George Washington, won the first presidency
Today in History January 8, 1815 The Battle Of New Orleans was the last major land battle in the War of 1812, the last war America ever fought against the British  General Andrew Jackson led his forces into the Battle of New Orleans two weeks after a peace treaty had already been signed to end the war  Although it was a great victory, this battle that did not need to be fought.
Today in History  .January 11, 1964  U.S. Surgeon General announced the results of a study that had found cigarette smoking causes most lung cancer deaths  It was America's first widely publicized official recognition of the dangers of cigarette smoking
Today in History January 12, 1773 The first public museum in America opened its doors to visitors in Charleston, South Carolina  The museum’s mission was to preserve the history of South Carolina and the Carolina Low Country. The museum still exists today in Charleston.
Today in History. . . January 13, 1886 Kansas already had snow drifts piled ten feet high from the heavy snows when a blizzard hit. Up to a hundred people died due to this storm and 80 percent of the state’s cattle froze to death  People who die in a blizzard usually suffer hypothermia due to inadequate shelter
Today in History January 14 , 1690 German instrument maker Johann  Denner created the first clarinet Early clarinets had a limited range and were used sparingly by composers  One hundred years later, the clarinet had become a standard instrument in European orchestras.
Today in History January 15,  1929 was born in Atlanta, GA A civil-rights leader, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spent a lifetime using nonviolent means to  campaign  for civil and human rights  He led 200,000 people in the August, 1963, civil rights march on Washington, D.C., and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
Today in History  January 19, 1966 Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi began fighting for Indian independence from Great Britain at around age 11, forming the Monkey Brigade, which among other activities, spied on the police  When her father died she became the leader of the democratic government of India She was credited with India's increased industrialization and food production
Today in History January 20, 1981 Ronald Reagan became the oldest man to take the office of President of the United States. On this day of his inauguration he was 69 years and 349 days of age. Reagan was the 40 th  president to serve in the United States.  He was a former Hollywood actor having made 50 films.  Reagan was an avid horseman.
Today in History. . . January 21, 1954 On this day the first nuclear powered submarine, the USS Nautilus was launched. The sub was famous for traveling under the polar ice cap and became the first vessel to reach the North Pole. This trip under the ice cap was an effort to explore a new trade route using submarines for cargo.  The Nautilus is now is a museum in Groton, Connecticut.
Today in History  January 25, 1858  The marriage of Queen Victoria's daughter and the Crown Prince of Prussia helped popularize  "The Wedding March " when it was played for that event.  The piece had been written by perhaps the greatest child prodigy after Mozart, Felix Mendelssohn Today, his "Wedding March" is still the traditional march played at weddings as a recessional
Today in History January 26, 1905  The world's largest diamond was found in the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa  The Cullinan Diamond was 3,106 carats and considered one of the most remarkable stones ever found
Today in History  February 3, 1959 is known as “the day the music died”  It was the day that some of  music’s biggest stars  were killed in a plane crash. The crash killed Buddy Holley, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens and happened near Clear Lake, Iowa.  The song American Pie is about this event
Today in History February 4, 1789 The First President and Vice President of the United States were elected  George Washington and John Adams were chosen in the first  election in America after the revolution.  This was the first time the people had chosen their leaders .
Today in History. . . February 5, 1952  The first "Don't Walk" sign was installed in New York City on this day. These signs were created to help minimize the number of people killed by automobiles while crossing the street.  In New York City pedestrians are subject to a $50 fine if they walk, or run, when faced with a “Don't Walk” sign.
Today in History  On February 8, 1986, Spud Webb, who at 5’7” was one of the shortest players in the history of professional basketball, wins the NBA slam dunk contest, beating his Atlanta Hawks teammate and 1985 dunk champ, the 6’8” Dominique Wilkins.  Webb dazzled the crowd with his soaring dunks and it was the most memorable moment of his career
Today in History February 9, 1965 U.S. sends first combat troops to South Vietnam This was the first commitment of American combat troops in South Vietnam President Johnson had ordered this deployment to provide protection for the key U.S. airbase in Vietnam.
Today in History February 10, 1763  This day was the beginning of the French and Indian War. The war lasted 7 years and in the end the French lost Canada to the British and Louisiana  to the Spanish.  In the end the French got even with the British by helping the Americans win the Revolutionary War.
Today in History February 11, 1805  Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian interpreter and guide to the Lewis and Clark expedition, gives birth to her first child. The child went with his mother on her journey with the Corps of Discovery and he was nicknamed Pompey by Clark. After his education, he later became an explorer of the American West.
Today in History. . . February 12, 2002  On this day in 2002, an Iranian passenger jet crashes into the side of a mountain, killing all 117 people on board  The plane dropped off the air-traffic controllers’ radar screens. Witnesses from a nearby  village saw a huge explosion as the plane crashed straight into the snow-covered White Mountain.
Today in History  On February 16, 1984, Bill Johnson becomes the first American man to win an Olympic gold medal in downhill skiing, a sport long dominated by European athletes. Johnson quickly became a national hero, though his fame was short-lived, and he never again competed in the Olympics
Today in History February 17, 1972  The 15,007,034th Volkswagen Beetle rolled out of the factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, passing the Ford Model T's previous record to become the most heavily produced car in history.  The Beetle or the "Strength Through Joy" car, as the Germans called it, was the brainchild of Ferdinand Porsche.
Today in History February 18, 2001  Dale Earnhardt Sr., one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history, died on this day in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500  Earnhardt, a high-school dropout from humble beginnings,  said all he ever wanted to do in life was race cars.  He was 49
Today in History February 19, 1968  The first airing of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was broadcast on PBS. The show ran for 895 episodes, the final one airing in 2001. Mr. Rogers always cared about children and tried to help them believe in themselves.
Today in History. . . February 22, 1980 U.S. hockey pulls off Miracle on Ice the U.S. men’s hockey team pulls off one of the biggest upsets in sports history with a 4-3 victory over the heavily favored Soviet Union at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.  Two days later, the Americans went on to beat Finland and take home the gold medal.
Today in History On this day in 1836, General Antonio López de Santa Anna marched his army against the Texas rebels  the Battle of the Alamo, which took place after a siege of nearly two weeks, that is best remembered  among those killed Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, and the Alamo's commander William Travis
Today in History  February 24, 1981: Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer announce their engagement  Lady Diana was 19 at the time, while the Prince was 32 years old.  Their wedding was scheduled for July of the same year. Prince Charles is the next King of England.
Today in History February 25, 1901 John Pierpont Morgan (JP) founded the U.S. Steel Corporation.  This corporation was the first billion dollar corporation in America.  Morgan died a wealthy man and shared his money with the arts
Today in History. . . February 29 Bob Hope hosts the Oscar banquets for the first time on this day in 1940. On that night  Gone with the Wind  sweeps the awards wining Best Picture of 1939, and its director, Victor Fleming, wins Best Director. Vivien Leigh won Best Actress, and Hattie McDaniel won Best Supporting Actress. McDaniel was the first African-American performer to win an Academy Award.
Today in History March 1 On this day in 1932, in a crime that captured the attention of the entire nation, Charles Lindbergh III, the 20-month-old son of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh, is kidnapped from the family's new mansion in Hopewell, New Jersey. After a search for the kidnapper, and payment of the ransom money, the baby’s body is found near the Lindbergh home. He had been killed the night he was kidnapped.
Today in History. . . On March 2, 1962, Philadelphia Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points against the New York Knicks.  It was the first time that a professional basketball player had scored 100 points in a single contest. Chamberlain sank 36 field goals and 28 foul shots, both league records.
Today in History  On March 3,1887 Anne Sullivan begins teaching six-year-old Helen Keller, who lost her sight and hearing after a severe illness at the age of 19 months. With Sullivan teaching her, Helen went from uncontrollable to well educated and graduated from college  to become an international speaker and activist.
Today in History March 4, 1789 The first session of the U.S. Congress is held in New York City as the U.S. Constitution takes effect. Only nine senators and 13 representatives showed up to begin negotiations for the approval of the first ten amendments to the Constitution.  It would be several months before all congressmen would ratify the Bill of Rights Amendments
Today in History March 5 On this day in 1963, the Hula-Hoop, a hip-swiveling toy that became a huge fad across America when it was first marketed by Wham-O in 1958, is patented by the company's co-founder. The enormous popularity of the Hula-Hoop was short-lived and within a matter of months, the masses were on to the next big thing. However, the Hula-Hoop never faded away completely and still has its fans today
Today in History April 12, 1964 today was the beginning of the Civil War When the southern troops attacked Ft. Sumter  President Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to join the Union army.  The Union Navy formed a blockade of the Southern Ports in an effort to starve the south and put a quick end to the war.
Today in History. . . April 13, 1970-  Apollo 13  announced "Houston, we've got a problem," when an oxygen tank burst on the way to the Moon. The three astronauts were forced to survive in the space crippled space craft until they could slingshot back to earth using the gravity of the moon to help control their re-entry into the atmosphere.
Today in History  April 14, 1865 President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth.  Lincoln was enjoying a play at the Ford Theater when he was shot and he died the next morning.  Booth was later either killed by law enforcement or took his own life, it still remains unclear.
Today in History April 15, 1912 the Titanic sank off the coast of Newfoundland after hitting an iceberg.  Of the 2,227 passengers only 705 survived the trip.  The ship remained lost at the bottom of the Atlantic until it was discovered in 1985. When it was built the ships boasted that it was “unsinkable” due to the new technologies used to build it.
Today in History 1972 China sent President Nixon two giant pandas as a gift.
Today in History April 19 1897 the first Boston Marathon was run. The Boston Marathon is the oldest and most prestigious annual marathon in the world  The race attracts more than one million spectators and 25,000 runners  The first race had only 15 runners that took to the course. This year’s race begins at 10:00am today
Today in History On April 20, 1912 The Boston Red Sox played their first game at Fenway Park. They beat the N.Y. Highlanders (who in 1913 would become known as the Yankees) 7-6. Fenway is the oldest baseball field still in use in the United States.  The Park is in the Fenway section of Boston, Massachusetts.
Today in History April 21, 1997 The ashes of 24 people were carried into space for the first burial in space.  Among those ashes was Gene Roddenbury, the creator of Star Trek.  The ashes are placed in a small capsule and released into space by a Pegasus rocket.  The capsules orbits the Earth and eventually re-enter our atmosphere to land in the Pacific ocean.
Today in History April 22, 1970  The first Earth day was observed. Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment  Similar Earth Day celebrations are observed around the world on various dates.
Today in History April 23, 1985 The Coke company announced that it would be changing its formula to create New Coke. The new formula was very unpopular and the company lost many customers.  Coca-cola changed the formula back to the original less than three months after New Coke was introduced.  If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Today in History April 26, 1964 The African Countries of Tanganyika and Zanzibar joined to form Tanzania. Tanzania is the home of Mt Kilimanjaro and Lake Victoria, two Africa’s famous landmarks.  The largest city is Dar es Salaam on the coast of the Indian Ocean.  The Island of Zanzibar is across a 22 mile wide canal from the mainland .
Today in History April 27, 1521 Ferdinand Magellan was killed by the natives of the Philippines. Magellan was the first man to try to circumnavigate the globe.  He was of Portuguese descent. Although Magellan did not make it back to Spain he is given credit for the expedition.
Today in History April 28, 1945 The Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was executed. In 1939 Mussolini promised an alliance with Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. Italy's failures in the war led to Mussolini being removed from government, and when the war ended he was arrested, tried and executed
Today in History April 29, 1986  Pitcher Roger Clemens set a major league baseball record by striking out 20 batters in a regular nine-inning game.  Clemens is the hard-throwing, right-hander who has seven times won the Cy Young Award as the best pitcher in the American League
Today in History April 30, 1812 Louisiana became the 18th state in the United States. The capital of the state is Baton Rouge and the largest city is New Orleans.  The state was named in honor of French King Louis XIV.  The state is most famous for the Mardi Gras celebration and Hurricane Katrina.
Today in History May 3, 2003 New Hampshire’s symbol, the granite Old Man of the Mountain, collapsed in the state’s Franconia Mountains.  The profile has been New Hampshire's state emblem since 1945. It was put on the state's license plate, state highway-route signs, and the back of New Hampshire's Statehood Quarter
Today in History May 4, 1626 Peter Minuit landed in Manhattan, which he later bought for $24 worth of cloth and brass buttons. He purchased the land for the Dutch and they later founded New Amsterdam (New York) as the center of Manhattan.
Today in History May 5, 1961 Alan Sheppard became the first American in space. His flight was a suborbital trip of 302 mi (486 km) down the Atlantic missile range. He reached a height of 115 mi (185 km) and performed several maneuvers of his capsule,  Freedom 7,  during the 15-min flight
Today in History May 6, 1937 The German airship  Hindenburg  blew up and burst into flames at Lakehurst, N.J.  Thirty-five people on board the flight were killed (13 passengers and 22 crewmen), along with one crewman on the ground. The disaster was called the Titanic of the air.
Today in History May 7, 1945 Germany unconditionally surrendered to the allies in Rheims, France  Although Hitler was already dead by suicide, his military agreed to the surrender to end World War II in Europe.
Today in History May 10,1869 The United States’ first transcontinental railroad was completed with a ceremony in Promontory Summit, Utah  The Union Pacific Railroad build from East and the  Central Pacific Railroad built from California.  When they met it was in Utah and it meant that the tracks went across the United States.
Today in History May 11, 1949 Siam changed its name to Thailand.  The country is bordered by Cambodia, Burma, and Laos.  The country is a monarchy and rules by a Head of State instead of a king as in the past.
Today in History May 12, 2008 Tens of thousands were  killed and thousands injured when a 7.9 magnitude earthquake strikes Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan Provinces in western China.  The earthquake left at least 5 million people without housing. Millions of livestock and a significant amount of agriculture were also destroyed,
Today in History May 13, 1938 Louis Armstrong and his orchestra recorded the New Orleans's jazz classic,  When the Saints Go Marching In , on Decca Records. Armstrong made this gospel song a “hot” favorite with his jazz redition This tune and often the words are often used as a popular theme or rallying song for a number of sports teams
Today in History May 14,1904 The Olympic Games were held in the United States for the first time, in St. Louis, Missouri  There were only 13 countries participating and most of the medals were won by Americans.
Today in History May 17, 1875 The first Kentucky Derby was held at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky  The winner of that first race was  Aristides  Running in one of the Triple Crown races takes a special kind of athlete. The Thoroughbred horses are trained and conditioned from their second birthday to compete.  Only 20 horses are chosen out of 400 or more nominated to race.
Today in History May 18, 1980 Mount St. Helens, in Washington state, erupted after being dormant for 123 year. It was one of the largest volcanic explosions in North American history  The disaster took  65 lives, wiped out substantial populations of elk, deer, bear, and coyote, and destroyed 230 sq mi of vegetation. Since the eruption the area has experienced ecological succession to replace the habitat destroyed.
Today in History May 19, 1994 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died in New York.  As first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy planned and conducted the restoration of the White House and had Congress declare the White House a national museum.  She is remembered for her contributions to the arts and historic preservation
Today in History May 20, 1506  Christopher Columbus died in Spain. At the time of his death he still believed that he had reached Asia. Columbus’s explorations changed the course of western history. As a result, he remains a controversial figure. While some admire his bravery and consider him a hero, others condemn his role in the colonization of the Americas and the genocide of native peoples
Today in History May 21, 1881.  Clara Barton founded what became the American Red Cross.  She then established a service of supplies for soldiers and nursed in army camps and on the battlefields. She was called the Angel of the Battlefield  The Red Cross is an international organization concerned with the alleviation of human suffering and the promotion of public health

Today in history

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Today in HistoryAugust 24, 0079 Mount Vesuvius erupts burying the city of Pompeii and Hurculaneum, Italy in Volcanic Ash and killing all inhabitants. Pompeii was not discovered until 1787
  • 3.
    Today in History August 25,1910 The Yellow Cab Company was born. The first cabs with meters installed were Model J Fords
  • 4.
    Today in HistoryAugust 26, 1936 Today was the first televised Major League Baseball game. The game was between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers
  • 5.
    Today in HistoryAugust 27, 1962 The United States launched the Mariner Space Probe The Probe was to investigate the planet Venus
  • 6.
    Today in HistoryAugust 28, 1963 Today Martin Luther King Jr. Gave his famous “I have a dream” speech The speech was given at the Lincoln Memorial in front of Civil Rights Protestors
  • 7.
    Today in HistoryAugust 31, 1997 Britain's Princess Diana was killed in an automobile accident. Her death was blamed on the photographers who followed her every move.
  • 8.
    Today in History September 1, 1939 Today was the beginning of World War II The German army under Adolph Hitler invaded the country of Poland
  • 9.
    Today in HistorySeptember 2, 1789 The United States Treasury Department was established The first Treasury secretary was Alexander Hamilton
  • 10.
    Today in HistorySeptember 3, 1783 The treaty of Paris was signed ending the Revolutionary War The war that had started in 1775 gave American Freedom from Great Britain
  • 11.
    Today in HistorySeptember 4, 1972 American swimmer Mark Spitz won his seventh Olympic gold medal at the Munich Olympic Games. His record stood until it was broken by Michael Phelps in the 2008 Olympics
  • 12.
    Today in HistorySeptember 8, 1900 A category 4 hurricane struck Galveston, Texas The death toll reached 8,000
  • 13.
    Today in History September 9, 1956 Singer Elvis Presley appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show This was the first time the singer was on television
  • 14.
    Today in HistoryOn September 10, 1953 Swanson sells the first TV Dinner. The first one came in aluminum tray and had to be heated in an oven as microwaves were not yet sold. The dinner had Turkey, sweet potato and peas
  • 15.
    Today in HistoryOn September 11, 2001 terrorist hijack American Airliners and attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The death toll 3,000 or more. This was the worst act of terror on American Soil
  • 16.
    Today in HistorySeptember 14, 1901 Today President William McKinley died from a gunshot wound Buffalo, New York. His Vice President, Theodore Roosevelt became the President.
  • 17.
    Today in History September 15, 1935 Nazi Germany passed the Nuremberg Laws. These laws took away the citizenship of all Jews in Germany The Swastika became the official emblem of Nazi Germany
  • 18.
    Today in HistorySeptember 12, 1992 Dr. Mae Jamison became the first African American woman in space. She was aboard the 50 th shuttle mission on the shuttle Endeavour.
  • 19.
    Today in HistoryOn September 16, 1630, the Massachusetts town of Shawmut changed its name to Boston Boston was founded by the Puritan religious group. Boston was the home of many of America’s famous revolutionaries
  • 20.
    Today in HistorySeptember 17, 1862 marked the bloodiest day in United States Military History During the American Civil War the battle of Antietam took place in Virginia. More than 23,000 soldiers were killed or wounded in this battle alone. The seen of this battle has been set aside as a National Monument to those who died there.
  • 21.
    Today in HistorySeptember 18, 1904, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Glidden become the first people to cross the Rocky Mountains in an automobile. The couple drove from Boston, MA to Vancouver, Canada in a 24 horse power Napier. The trip was over 3,000 miles.
  • 22.
    Today in HistorySeptember 21, 1981 Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton gets his 3,118 th strike out. This breaks the Major League Baseball record of Bob Gibson. Carlton’s record breaking strikeout came in a game with the Montréal Expos.
  • 23.
    Today in History September 22, 1776 Nathan Hale, a Revolutionary War hero, was hanged by the British as a spy. Hale was sent to get information from the British and when his true mission was discovered he was hanged. He is famous for his last words, “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”
  • 24.
    Today in HistorySeptember 24, 1991 Dr. Seuss died at the age of 87. Dr. Seuss was really Theodore Geisel and at the time of his death he had written forty-six children’s books. His books have been translated into 20 languages including Braille for the blind.
  • 25.
    Today in HistoryOn September 23, 1846 a German astronomer discovered the planet Neptune. Johann Gottfried Galle used calculations made by other astronomers to locate Neptune near other known planets. Neptune remained much of a mystery for the next 100 years.
  • 26.
    Today in HistorySeptember 25, 1981 Sandra Day O’Connor was sworn in as the first female Supreme Court Justice. O’Connor was nominated by President Ronald Reagan and served on the highest court in America for 25 years.
  • 27.
    Today in HistoryOn September 29, 1542 Portuguese explorer, Juan Cabrillo arrived in present day San Diego, California. He arrived from Mexico where he had participated in the conquest of the Aztec Empire. The spot where he landed is today Cabrillo National Monument
  • 28.
    Today in History September 29, 1988 The space shuttle Discovery was launched from Kennedy Space Center This was the first mission flown after the Challenger Disaster in January 1986. This shuttle launched the Hubble Telescope into space.
  • 29.
    Today in HistorySeptember 30, 1955 actor James Dean was killed in a car crash on a California highway. Dean became famous for starring in the films and on the Broadway stage. He won an Academy Award after his death. Dean was so popular that the world mourned his passing as they did with Michael Jackson.
  • 30.
    Today in HistoryOctober 1, 1971 Walt Disney World opened in Orlando, Fl. Also, on October 1, 1982 Epcot Center opened at Walt Disney World. Although the Park was started by Walt Disney, he did not live to see it completed. Disney World is the largest theme park in the world.
  • 31.
    Today in HistoryOctober 2, 1950, the comic strip Peanuts first appeared in newspapers. The comic was created by Charles M. Schulz and was read by over 300 million people in 75 countries. The World fell in love with Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and their pet beagle, Snoopy.
  • 32.
    Today in HistoryOctober 5, 1947, the first televised speech from the White House was made by President Harry S. Truman. In his speech he urged Americans to stop eating meat on Thursdays and Chicken on Sundays to help the starving people of the world.
  • 33.
    Today in History October 6, 1927 the first full-length talking motion pictured debuted in movie theaters. The move, The Jazz Singer, starred Al Jolson. The film has been remade several times since, once starring Neil Diamond.
  • 34.
    Today in HistoryOctober 7, 2003, the Governor of California was removed from office and actor, body builder, Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected for the office. Schwarzenegger was then re-elected in November of 2006 and remains governor at the present.
  • 35.
    Today in HistoryOctober 8, 1871, the great Chicago Fire started. The fire burned for 2 days and killed hundreds of people. The fire destroyed 4 square miles of downtown Chicago. History says that the fire was started when Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern and started the barn a blaze.
  • 36.
    Today in HistoryOctober 9, 1940 musician John Lennon was born in Liverpool. England. Lennon wrote most of the beetles famous songs Lennon was shot and killed by a mentally unstable fan in 1980.
  • 37.
    Today in HistoryOctober 12, 1942 was the first time the pledge of Allegiance was recited in Public schools across America. The Pledge was written by Francis Bellamy to celebrate Columbus Day. The words “In God we trust” were added in 1954.
  • 38.
    Today in History October 13, 1792 the cornerstone for the White House was laid in Washington, DC The house was finished in 1800 and John Adams was the first president to live in the house The name, White was not used until 1901
  • 39.
    Today in HistoryOctober 14, 1947 U.S. Air Force, pilot Chuck Yeager became the first human to travel faster than the speed of sound. Yeager went on to fly many successful missions during World War II and to win many honors.
  • 40.
    Today in HistoryOn October 15, 1951 the I Love Lucy Show made its debut on television. The show starred Lucille Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz. In the show Lucy always caused people to laugh by her funny antics. The show lasted for six years, but you can see Lucy any day on cable Television.
  • 41.
    Today in HistoryOn October 16, 1793 French queen, Marie Antoinette was convicted of treason against the French government She was beheaded on the guillotine in Versailles, France Marie is famous for saying “Let them Eat Cake”
  • 42.
    Today in HistoryOctober 19, 1957 Montreal Canadiens hockey player “Rocket” Richard became the first National Hockey League player to score 500 goals in his career. His 500 th goal was scored in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks Rocket was known as the Babe Ruth of Hockey
  • 43.
    Today in History October 20, 1803 the United States Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase from France. This purchase of land doubled the size of the United States and opened the west to settlers
  • 44.
    Today in HistoryOctober 21, 1973 the Sydney Opera House was finally opened to the public The construction took fifteen years and cost $80 million. The Opera House was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth The first performance was War and Peace
  • 45.
    Today in HistoryOctober 22, 1962 was the beginning of the Cuban Missile Crises. A U.S. spy plane discovered Russian missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy ordered a blockade of Cuba by the United States Navy. The crises lasted seven days and finally the Russians removed the missiles.
  • 46.
    Today in History.. . October 23, 1915 over 25,000 women marched up Fifth Ave in New York City demanding the right to vote. The women known as suffragettes finally won the right to vote when the 19 th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in 1920.
  • 47.
    Today in HistoryOctober 26, 2005 the Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros in the world Series. This was the first World Series win for the White Sox in 88 years.
  • 48.
    Today in History October 27, 1787 was the date of publication of the Federalist Papers . The papers called for ratification of the new United States Constitution The papers were authored by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. These three men were important in the founding of our government
  • 49.
    Today in HistoryOctober 28, 1886 was the date for the dedication of the Statue of Liberty. President Grover Cleveland accepted the statue as a gift from France and it was erected in New York Harbor. The statue was created by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and cost the French people $250,000 to build.
  • 50.
    Today in HistoryOctober 29,1656 was the birth date of Sir Edmund Halley. Halley was a famous astronomer and studied the movement of the moon and the stars. His most famous work was on comets and he predicted when a certain comet would be visible This comet became known as Halley’s Comet
  • 51.
    Today in HistoryNovember 2,1889 South Dakota and North became the 39 th and 40 th states of the union. Both North and South Dakota were discovered by the French. The states were sold to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis and Clark explored both states with their Corps of Discovery.
  • 52.
    Today in History November 3, 1992 Carol Moseley-Braun became the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate. Braun was a resident of Chicago and served as the ambassador to New Zealand after leaving the Senate.
  • 53.
    Today in HistoryNovember 4, 1922 The tomb of Egypt’s famous King Tutankhamen was discovered. Howard Carter, an English Egyptologist, discovered the tomb in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt. The contents of the tomb, including the mummy are now on display in Cairo, Egypt.
  • 54.
    Today in History.. . November 5, 1994 George Foreman became the oldest Heavyweight boxer to win a Championship title. He knocked out the other boxer in the 10 th round of the match. George is most famous for selling his grill design. He is also a minister.
  • 55.
    Today in HistoryNovember 6, 1869 the first soccer game between two college teams (intercollegiate) took place. This game was played in New Jersey and was between Princeton and Rutgers Universities. The game was won by Rutgers 6 to Princeton’s 4
  • 56.
    Today in HistoryNovember 9, 1938 German Nazis looted and burned Jewish businesses in Austria and Germany. This became known as the Kristallnacht , meaning crystal night because of all the broken glass in the streets. 91 Jewish people were killed and many more injured and thousands of businesses and synagogues were destroyed
  • 57.
    Today in History November 10, 1969 Sesame Street premiered on television. The show has won 122 Emmy Awards and is seen in more than 120 countries and territories around the world.
  • 58.
    Today in HistoryNovember 11, 1620 the Mayflower Compact was signed by all men aboard the Mayflower The Compact was the first written form of self government in the United States. The document stated that rules and laws would be made for the good of all in the new colony. Our current constitution is based on this document
  • 59.
    Today in History.. . November 12, 1954 the Immigration Station on Ellis Island stopped accepting immigrants to America. During its’ 62 years of operation more than 20 million immigrants passed through the station on their way to a new life. Ellis Island now houses a museum honoring America’s immigrants.
  • 60.
    Today in HistoryNovember 13, 1940 Walt Disney’s Fantasia debuted in theaters. This animated film had no dialogue and featured classical music. The film only played in 12 theaters due to all of the audio equipment it took to project the film in stereophonic sound, a new innovation.
  • 61.
    Today in HistoryNovember 16, 1864 General William Tecumseh Sherman and his troops began their “March to the Sea” through Georgia. They cut a deadly path from Atlanta to Savannah and left everything burned and destroyed in between. This was an effort to break the spirit of the south during the American Civil War.
  • 62.
    Today in History November 17, 1869 the Suez Canal opened in Egypt. This canal joined the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. The canal makes it possible for ships to navigate through Egypt without going around The African Continent.
  • 63.
    Today in HistoryNovember 30, 1995 President Bill Clinton became the first US president to visit Northern Ireland. His visit was important because he urged the Protestant and Catholics to settle their differences after years of fighting .
  • 64.
    Today in History December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks was asked to give her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama Rosa refused to give her seat and was arrested and put into the local jail. She suffered the loss of her job because of this action and had to leave her home to find work. Her protest earned her a Congressional Medal of Honor later in her life.
  • 65.
    Today in HistoryDecember 2, 1982 Barney Clark was the first person to receive an artificial heart transplant . Clark was near death when he received the heart invented by Dr. Richard Jarvik. He lived for 112 hours with the heart.
  • 66.
    Today in History.. . December 3, 1609 Galileo Galilei, an Italian mathematician, astronomer and physicist, is credited with inventing the first complete astronomical telescope. He was the first to turn the telescope to the skies. Galileo's telescope had a power of 40, and he was able to view mountains on the moon, Jupiter's moons and many stars with it.
  • 67.
    Today in HistoryDecember 5, 1816 James Madison was elected the fifth President of the United States by the electoral college. Madison was considered the Father of the Constitution as he created the plan for the current form of government. He was president during the War of 1812
  • 68.
    Today in HistoryOn December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked the U.S. military bases in Pearl Harbor, HI. The air attack that would leave over 2,280 military personnel and sixty-eight civilians dead and over 1,109 people wounded. Nineteen naval vessels were destroyed, including eight battleships. The cause of the attack was a breakdown in political talks between Japan and the US. The attack on Pearl Harbor led to the entry of the U.S. into World War II.
  • 69.
    Today in History December 8, 1980, former Beatles member John Lennon was shot and killed in front of his Manhattan apartment building. The shooter was an obsessed fan, Mark David Chapman, to whom Lennon had given an autograph earlier that day. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were the four members of the Liverpool (England) rock band the Beatles.
  • 70.
    Today in History.. . Doug Engelbart, inventor of the computer mouse, gave the first demonstration of the mouse on December 9, 1968 . The computer tasks that could be accomplished using a mouse paved the way for modern interactive computers and the development of Microsoft's Windows operating systems. Englebart was also a key figure in the development of the Internet .
  • 71.
    Today in HistoryAlfred Bernhard Nobel, a Swedish chemist and inventor, died on December 10, 1896 . He invented several types of explosives. Nobel sought to invent a safer explosive following a number of explosions that resulted in many deaths. In his will he wanted his money to be used as awards to be given annually in the areas of literature, physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, and the promotion of international peace .
  • 72.
    Today in History December 15, 1903 Italian immigrant Italo Marcioni invented the ice cream cone. The cone became popular at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, where several ice cream vendors sold their wares in cones. Controversy surrounds the cone because an ice cream vendor named Charles Menches also independently "invented" it at the World's Fair
  • 73.
    Today in HistoryDecember 14, 1911 Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer, became the first man to reach the South Pole Using dog sleds, which allowed him to travel fifteen miles a day through sub-zero temperatures, Amundsen arrived thirty-five days before another explorer, Robert F. Scott He had decided to explore Antarctica once he realized that Robert F. Perry had departed for the North Pole
  • 74.
    Today in History.. . December 16, 1773 to protest the British import tax on tea, a group of fifty to sixty "Sons of Liberty" dressed themselves as Mohawk Indians, boarded three British ships in Boston Harbor, and emptied their cargoes (tea) into the water. The Boston Tea Party was one of several events that led up to the American Revolution .
  • 75.
    Today in HistoryDecember 17, 1903 As his brother Wilbur watched, Orville Wright took off from a field in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. His plane was in the air twelve seconds, flying 120 feet. It was the first time anyone at all had left the ground to fly in a heavier-than-air, self-powered flying machine.
  • 76.
    Today in HistoryDecember 18, 1865: The thirteenth amendment, which abolished slavery, had been ratified earlier in December, 1865, and went into effect on this date. The amendment states that, “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude … shall exist within the United States
  • 77.
    Today in History January 4, 1996 General Motors announced plans for a fall release of the non-polluting EV-1, its first electric car to be sold in the United States. GM sold the EV-1 through its Saturn dealerships The EV-1 became the best-selling electric consumer car of its time.
  • 78.
    Today in HistoryJanuary 5, 1914 Henry Ford amazed the world when he announced that he would pay his automobile workers $5.00 per day plus a share of $10 million from the previous year's profits. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the buying power of $1.00 in 1914 was like the buying power of $19.10 today That means, by today’s standards, Ford paid his workers the equivalent of $95.50 per day
  • 79.
    Today in History.. . January 6, 1963 Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom , with Marlin Perkins, premiered on the NBC television network It was one of the first wildlife series on TV. The pioneering show took viewers to the far corners of the world and revealed wildlife in its natural habitat Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom won forty-one major awards, including four Emmys
  • 80.
    Today in History. January 7, 1789 The United States of America held its first election for president No one knew who had won until a month later. After voters in each state chose only their electors, they voted for president. The votes cast by the electors were counted by Congress. The person with the most votes, George Washington, won the first presidency
  • 81.
    Today in HistoryJanuary 8, 1815 The Battle Of New Orleans was the last major land battle in the War of 1812, the last war America ever fought against the British General Andrew Jackson led his forces into the Battle of New Orleans two weeks after a peace treaty had already been signed to end the war Although it was a great victory, this battle that did not need to be fought.
  • 82.
    Today in History .January 11, 1964 U.S. Surgeon General announced the results of a study that had found cigarette smoking causes most lung cancer deaths It was America's first widely publicized official recognition of the dangers of cigarette smoking
  • 83.
    Today in HistoryJanuary 12, 1773 The first public museum in America opened its doors to visitors in Charleston, South Carolina The museum’s mission was to preserve the history of South Carolina and the Carolina Low Country. The museum still exists today in Charleston.
  • 84.
    Today in History.. . January 13, 1886 Kansas already had snow drifts piled ten feet high from the heavy snows when a blizzard hit. Up to a hundred people died due to this storm and 80 percent of the state’s cattle froze to death People who die in a blizzard usually suffer hypothermia due to inadequate shelter
  • 85.
    Today in HistoryJanuary 14 , 1690 German instrument maker Johann Denner created the first clarinet Early clarinets had a limited range and were used sparingly by composers One hundred years later, the clarinet had become a standard instrument in European orchestras.
  • 86.
    Today in HistoryJanuary 15, 1929 was born in Atlanta, GA A civil-rights leader, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spent a lifetime using nonviolent means to campaign for civil and human rights He led 200,000 people in the August, 1963, civil rights march on Washington, D.C., and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
  • 87.
    Today in History January 19, 1966 Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi began fighting for Indian independence from Great Britain at around age 11, forming the Monkey Brigade, which among other activities, spied on the police When her father died she became the leader of the democratic government of India She was credited with India's increased industrialization and food production
  • 88.
    Today in HistoryJanuary 20, 1981 Ronald Reagan became the oldest man to take the office of President of the United States. On this day of his inauguration he was 69 years and 349 days of age. Reagan was the 40 th president to serve in the United States. He was a former Hollywood actor having made 50 films. Reagan was an avid horseman.
  • 89.
    Today in History.. . January 21, 1954 On this day the first nuclear powered submarine, the USS Nautilus was launched. The sub was famous for traveling under the polar ice cap and became the first vessel to reach the North Pole. This trip under the ice cap was an effort to explore a new trade route using submarines for cargo. The Nautilus is now is a museum in Groton, Connecticut.
  • 90.
    Today in History January 25, 1858 The marriage of Queen Victoria's daughter and the Crown Prince of Prussia helped popularize "The Wedding March " when it was played for that event. The piece had been written by perhaps the greatest child prodigy after Mozart, Felix Mendelssohn Today, his "Wedding March" is still the traditional march played at weddings as a recessional
  • 91.
    Today in HistoryJanuary 26, 1905 The world's largest diamond was found in the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa The Cullinan Diamond was 3,106 carats and considered one of the most remarkable stones ever found
  • 92.
    Today in History February 3, 1959 is known as “the day the music died” It was the day that some of music’s biggest stars were killed in a plane crash. The crash killed Buddy Holley, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens and happened near Clear Lake, Iowa. The song American Pie is about this event
  • 93.
    Today in HistoryFebruary 4, 1789 The First President and Vice President of the United States were elected George Washington and John Adams were chosen in the first election in America after the revolution. This was the first time the people had chosen their leaders .
  • 94.
    Today in History.. . February 5, 1952 The first "Don't Walk" sign was installed in New York City on this day. These signs were created to help minimize the number of people killed by automobiles while crossing the street. In New York City pedestrians are subject to a $50 fine if they walk, or run, when faced with a “Don't Walk” sign.
  • 95.
    Today in History On February 8, 1986, Spud Webb, who at 5’7” was one of the shortest players in the history of professional basketball, wins the NBA slam dunk contest, beating his Atlanta Hawks teammate and 1985 dunk champ, the 6’8” Dominique Wilkins. Webb dazzled the crowd with his soaring dunks and it was the most memorable moment of his career
  • 96.
    Today in HistoryFebruary 9, 1965 U.S. sends first combat troops to South Vietnam This was the first commitment of American combat troops in South Vietnam President Johnson had ordered this deployment to provide protection for the key U.S. airbase in Vietnam.
  • 97.
    Today in HistoryFebruary 10, 1763 This day was the beginning of the French and Indian War. The war lasted 7 years and in the end the French lost Canada to the British and Louisiana to the Spanish. In the end the French got even with the British by helping the Americans win the Revolutionary War.
  • 98.
    Today in HistoryFebruary 11, 1805 Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian interpreter and guide to the Lewis and Clark expedition, gives birth to her first child. The child went with his mother on her journey with the Corps of Discovery and he was nicknamed Pompey by Clark. After his education, he later became an explorer of the American West.
  • 99.
    Today in History.. . February 12, 2002 On this day in 2002, an Iranian passenger jet crashes into the side of a mountain, killing all 117 people on board The plane dropped off the air-traffic controllers’ radar screens. Witnesses from a nearby village saw a huge explosion as the plane crashed straight into the snow-covered White Mountain.
  • 100.
    Today in History On February 16, 1984, Bill Johnson becomes the first American man to win an Olympic gold medal in downhill skiing, a sport long dominated by European athletes. Johnson quickly became a national hero, though his fame was short-lived, and he never again competed in the Olympics
  • 101.
    Today in HistoryFebruary 17, 1972 The 15,007,034th Volkswagen Beetle rolled out of the factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, passing the Ford Model T's previous record to become the most heavily produced car in history. The Beetle or the "Strength Through Joy" car, as the Germans called it, was the brainchild of Ferdinand Porsche.
  • 102.
    Today in HistoryFebruary 18, 2001 Dale Earnhardt Sr., one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history, died on this day in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500 Earnhardt, a high-school dropout from humble beginnings, said all he ever wanted to do in life was race cars. He was 49
  • 103.
    Today in HistoryFebruary 19, 1968 The first airing of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was broadcast on PBS. The show ran for 895 episodes, the final one airing in 2001. Mr. Rogers always cared about children and tried to help them believe in themselves.
  • 104.
    Today in History.. . February 22, 1980 U.S. hockey pulls off Miracle on Ice the U.S. men’s hockey team pulls off one of the biggest upsets in sports history with a 4-3 victory over the heavily favored Soviet Union at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Two days later, the Americans went on to beat Finland and take home the gold medal.
  • 105.
    Today in HistoryOn this day in 1836, General Antonio López de Santa Anna marched his army against the Texas rebels the Battle of the Alamo, which took place after a siege of nearly two weeks, that is best remembered among those killed Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, and the Alamo's commander William Travis
  • 106.
    Today in History February 24, 1981: Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer announce their engagement Lady Diana was 19 at the time, while the Prince was 32 years old. Their wedding was scheduled for July of the same year. Prince Charles is the next King of England.
  • 107.
    Today in HistoryFebruary 25, 1901 John Pierpont Morgan (JP) founded the U.S. Steel Corporation. This corporation was the first billion dollar corporation in America. Morgan died a wealthy man and shared his money with the arts
  • 108.
    Today in History.. . February 29 Bob Hope hosts the Oscar banquets for the first time on this day in 1940. On that night Gone with the Wind sweeps the awards wining Best Picture of 1939, and its director, Victor Fleming, wins Best Director. Vivien Leigh won Best Actress, and Hattie McDaniel won Best Supporting Actress. McDaniel was the first African-American performer to win an Academy Award.
  • 109.
    Today in HistoryMarch 1 On this day in 1932, in a crime that captured the attention of the entire nation, Charles Lindbergh III, the 20-month-old son of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh, is kidnapped from the family's new mansion in Hopewell, New Jersey. After a search for the kidnapper, and payment of the ransom money, the baby’s body is found near the Lindbergh home. He had been killed the night he was kidnapped.
  • 110.
    Today in History.. . On March 2, 1962, Philadelphia Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points against the New York Knicks. It was the first time that a professional basketball player had scored 100 points in a single contest. Chamberlain sank 36 field goals and 28 foul shots, both league records.
  • 111.
    Today in History On March 3,1887 Anne Sullivan begins teaching six-year-old Helen Keller, who lost her sight and hearing after a severe illness at the age of 19 months. With Sullivan teaching her, Helen went from uncontrollable to well educated and graduated from college to become an international speaker and activist.
  • 112.
    Today in HistoryMarch 4, 1789 The first session of the U.S. Congress is held in New York City as the U.S. Constitution takes effect. Only nine senators and 13 representatives showed up to begin negotiations for the approval of the first ten amendments to the Constitution. It would be several months before all congressmen would ratify the Bill of Rights Amendments
  • 113.
    Today in HistoryMarch 5 On this day in 1963, the Hula-Hoop, a hip-swiveling toy that became a huge fad across America when it was first marketed by Wham-O in 1958, is patented by the company's co-founder. The enormous popularity of the Hula-Hoop was short-lived and within a matter of months, the masses were on to the next big thing. However, the Hula-Hoop never faded away completely and still has its fans today
  • 114.
    Today in HistoryApril 12, 1964 today was the beginning of the Civil War When the southern troops attacked Ft. Sumter President Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to join the Union army. The Union Navy formed a blockade of the Southern Ports in an effort to starve the south and put a quick end to the war.
  • 115.
    Today in History.. . April 13, 1970- Apollo 13 announced "Houston, we've got a problem," when an oxygen tank burst on the way to the Moon. The three astronauts were forced to survive in the space crippled space craft until they could slingshot back to earth using the gravity of the moon to help control their re-entry into the atmosphere.
  • 116.
    Today in History April 14, 1865 President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln was enjoying a play at the Ford Theater when he was shot and he died the next morning. Booth was later either killed by law enforcement or took his own life, it still remains unclear.
  • 117.
    Today in HistoryApril 15, 1912 the Titanic sank off the coast of Newfoundland after hitting an iceberg. Of the 2,227 passengers only 705 survived the trip. The ship remained lost at the bottom of the Atlantic until it was discovered in 1985. When it was built the ships boasted that it was “unsinkable” due to the new technologies used to build it.
  • 118.
    Today in History1972 China sent President Nixon two giant pandas as a gift.
  • 119.
    Today in HistoryApril 19 1897 the first Boston Marathon was run. The Boston Marathon is the oldest and most prestigious annual marathon in the world The race attracts more than one million spectators and 25,000 runners The first race had only 15 runners that took to the course. This year’s race begins at 10:00am today
  • 120.
    Today in HistoryOn April 20, 1912 The Boston Red Sox played their first game at Fenway Park. They beat the N.Y. Highlanders (who in 1913 would become known as the Yankees) 7-6. Fenway is the oldest baseball field still in use in the United States. The Park is in the Fenway section of Boston, Massachusetts.
  • 121.
    Today in HistoryApril 21, 1997 The ashes of 24 people were carried into space for the first burial in space. Among those ashes was Gene Roddenbury, the creator of Star Trek. The ashes are placed in a small capsule and released into space by a Pegasus rocket. The capsules orbits the Earth and eventually re-enter our atmosphere to land in the Pacific ocean.
  • 122.
    Today in HistoryApril 22, 1970 The first Earth day was observed. Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment Similar Earth Day celebrations are observed around the world on various dates.
  • 123.
    Today in HistoryApril 23, 1985 The Coke company announced that it would be changing its formula to create New Coke. The new formula was very unpopular and the company lost many customers. Coca-cola changed the formula back to the original less than three months after New Coke was introduced. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
  • 124.
    Today in HistoryApril 26, 1964 The African Countries of Tanganyika and Zanzibar joined to form Tanzania. Tanzania is the home of Mt Kilimanjaro and Lake Victoria, two Africa’s famous landmarks. The largest city is Dar es Salaam on the coast of the Indian Ocean. The Island of Zanzibar is across a 22 mile wide canal from the mainland .
  • 125.
    Today in HistoryApril 27, 1521 Ferdinand Magellan was killed by the natives of the Philippines. Magellan was the first man to try to circumnavigate the globe. He was of Portuguese descent. Although Magellan did not make it back to Spain he is given credit for the expedition.
  • 126.
    Today in HistoryApril 28, 1945 The Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was executed. In 1939 Mussolini promised an alliance with Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. Italy's failures in the war led to Mussolini being removed from government, and when the war ended he was arrested, tried and executed
  • 127.
    Today in HistoryApril 29, 1986 Pitcher Roger Clemens set a major league baseball record by striking out 20 batters in a regular nine-inning game. Clemens is the hard-throwing, right-hander who has seven times won the Cy Young Award as the best pitcher in the American League
  • 128.
    Today in HistoryApril 30, 1812 Louisiana became the 18th state in the United States. The capital of the state is Baton Rouge and the largest city is New Orleans. The state was named in honor of French King Louis XIV. The state is most famous for the Mardi Gras celebration and Hurricane Katrina.
  • 129.
    Today in HistoryMay 3, 2003 New Hampshire’s symbol, the granite Old Man of the Mountain, collapsed in the state’s Franconia Mountains. The profile has been New Hampshire's state emblem since 1945. It was put on the state's license plate, state highway-route signs, and the back of New Hampshire's Statehood Quarter
  • 130.
    Today in HistoryMay 4, 1626 Peter Minuit landed in Manhattan, which he later bought for $24 worth of cloth and brass buttons. He purchased the land for the Dutch and they later founded New Amsterdam (New York) as the center of Manhattan.
  • 131.
    Today in HistoryMay 5, 1961 Alan Sheppard became the first American in space. His flight was a suborbital trip of 302 mi (486 km) down the Atlantic missile range. He reached a height of 115 mi (185 km) and performed several maneuvers of his capsule, Freedom 7, during the 15-min flight
  • 132.
    Today in HistoryMay 6, 1937 The German airship Hindenburg blew up and burst into flames at Lakehurst, N.J. Thirty-five people on board the flight were killed (13 passengers and 22 crewmen), along with one crewman on the ground. The disaster was called the Titanic of the air.
  • 133.
    Today in HistoryMay 7, 1945 Germany unconditionally surrendered to the allies in Rheims, France Although Hitler was already dead by suicide, his military agreed to the surrender to end World War II in Europe.
  • 134.
    Today in HistoryMay 10,1869 The United States’ first transcontinental railroad was completed with a ceremony in Promontory Summit, Utah The Union Pacific Railroad build from East and the Central Pacific Railroad built from California. When they met it was in Utah and it meant that the tracks went across the United States.
  • 135.
    Today in HistoryMay 11, 1949 Siam changed its name to Thailand. The country is bordered by Cambodia, Burma, and Laos. The country is a monarchy and rules by a Head of State instead of a king as in the past.
  • 136.
    Today in HistoryMay 12, 2008 Tens of thousands were killed and thousands injured when a 7.9 magnitude earthquake strikes Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan Provinces in western China. The earthquake left at least 5 million people without housing. Millions of livestock and a significant amount of agriculture were also destroyed,
  • 137.
    Today in HistoryMay 13, 1938 Louis Armstrong and his orchestra recorded the New Orleans's jazz classic, When the Saints Go Marching In , on Decca Records. Armstrong made this gospel song a “hot” favorite with his jazz redition This tune and often the words are often used as a popular theme or rallying song for a number of sports teams
  • 138.
    Today in HistoryMay 14,1904 The Olympic Games were held in the United States for the first time, in St. Louis, Missouri There were only 13 countries participating and most of the medals were won by Americans.
  • 139.
    Today in HistoryMay 17, 1875 The first Kentucky Derby was held at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky The winner of that first race was Aristides Running in one of the Triple Crown races takes a special kind of athlete. The Thoroughbred horses are trained and conditioned from their second birthday to compete. Only 20 horses are chosen out of 400 or more nominated to race.
  • 140.
    Today in HistoryMay 18, 1980 Mount St. Helens, in Washington state, erupted after being dormant for 123 year. It was one of the largest volcanic explosions in North American history The disaster took 65 lives, wiped out substantial populations of elk, deer, bear, and coyote, and destroyed 230 sq mi of vegetation. Since the eruption the area has experienced ecological succession to replace the habitat destroyed.
  • 141.
    Today in HistoryMay 19, 1994 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died in New York. As first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy planned and conducted the restoration of the White House and had Congress declare the White House a national museum. She is remembered for her contributions to the arts and historic preservation
  • 142.
    Today in HistoryMay 20, 1506 Christopher Columbus died in Spain. At the time of his death he still believed that he had reached Asia. Columbus’s explorations changed the course of western history. As a result, he remains a controversial figure. While some admire his bravery and consider him a hero, others condemn his role in the colonization of the Americas and the genocide of native peoples
  • 143.
    Today in HistoryMay 21, 1881. Clara Barton founded what became the American Red Cross. She then established a service of supplies for soldiers and nursed in army camps and on the battlefields. She was called the Angel of the Battlefield The Red Cross is an international organization concerned with the alleviation of human suffering and the promotion of public health