by Matilda Cruz | Dec 29, 2023 | History
During America’s westward expansion in the nineteenth century, settlers claimed land in the western territories according to American law. The Native Americans who inhabited those lands understandably resisted this encroachment. However, the U.S. government...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 28, 2023 | History
On December 28, 1856, future president Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton, Virginia. Growing up in the South during the Civil War and the Reconstruction that followed shaped his views in ways that would profoundly affect his presidency. Wilson’s father...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 27, 2023 | History
In 1994, the Rwandan population was primarily composed of two major ethnic groups: the Hutus and the Tutsis. Traditionally, although the Tutsis were the smaller group, they held the highest ranks in Rwandan society. When German colonizers arrived in the nineteenth...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 26, 2023 | History
Judy Garland is best known today for her role as Dorothy in the classic movie The Wizard of Oz, but she had a long and successful career that began on the vaudeville stage. Garland’s journey started on December 26, 1924, when she was only two years old. Her...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 25, 2023 | History
On Christmas Day in 1896, John Philip Sousa premiered “Stars and Stripes Forever,” a composition destined to become the most celebrated march in American history. Already renowned as the “March King,” Sousa composed this masterpiece while returning from...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 24, 2023 | History
Did you know that initial bicycle models did not have brakes? On December 24, 1889, the bicycle pedal brake was officially patented, transforming the cycling experience forever. This ingenious invention allowed riders to slow down or stop by simply pedaling backward,...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 23, 2023 | History
Today in history, on December 23, 1928, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) established the first permanent coast-to-coast radio network. The network used high-quality phone lines built by AT&T. Before this, only temporary connections using long-distance phone...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 22, 2023 | History
Universal Pictures released The Mummy on December 22, 1932, and introduced American audiences to a new kind of cinematic terror. Directed by Karl Freund and featuring Boris Karloff as the menacing Imhotep, the film became one of the first major U.S. horror movies,...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 21, 2023 | History
The dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 21, 1991, marked the end of a superpower that had dominated global politics for much of the 20th century. Eleven former Soviet republics signed the Alma-Ata Protocol, which confirmed the USSR’s disbanding and...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 20, 2023 | History
On December 20, 1803, a symbolic act in New Orleans solidified one of history’s most impactful land deals. The French flag was lowered, and the U.S. took formal possession of the Louisiana Territory, doubling the size of the young nation; this is known as the...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 19, 2023 | History
Young age and top political offices do not typically go together in any part of the world. Despite this status quo, on December 19, 1783, William Pitt the Younger made history by becoming Britain’s youngest-ever Prime Minister at just 24 years old. His...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 17, 2023 | History
On December 17, 1989, The Simpsons premiered as a half-hour series on Fox, launching a socio-cultural phenomenon that continues to thrive today. Created by Matt Groening, this animated sitcom introduced audiences to the quirky and lovable Simpson family—Homer, Marge,...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 16, 2023 | History
One of the most memorable events in the American Revolution occurred on the evening of December 16, 1773, in Boston Harbor. The Boston Tea Party became a significant protest for independence, as American colonists firmly rejected further policies imposed by Britain....
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 15, 2023 | History
Most Americans know and cherish the freedoms they enjoy today. But do you know how those rights were formally secured? It all started with the ratification of the Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791. When the U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787, only some were happy...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 14, 2023 | History
December 14, 1947, was not just another day in Daytona Beach, Florida—it was the day stock car racing found its future. At the Streamline Hotel, a group of racing enthusiasts sat down to address a pressing need: to bring order to the chaos of racing. Before this...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 13, 2023 | History
December 13, 1961, marked a turning point for The Beatles. On this day, the band formally signed Brian Epstein as their manager, which led them from performing at Liverpool’s Cavern Club to becoming famous worldwide. Brian Epstein was more than just another...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 13, 2023 | History
On December 18, 1917, the United States Congress approved the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, setting the stage for one of the most transformative periods in American history—Prohibition. The amendment sought to ban the production, sale, and transportation of...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 12, 2023 | History
John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s donation on December 12, 1946, was historic. He gave six blocks of land in Manhattan to construct the United Nations headquarters. This gift became a symbol of international cooperation and the desire for peace in a world recovering...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 11, 2023 | History
Like an old song says, you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone. Today, the Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Until 1911, though, it was a reasonably obscure painting that mostly only art experts knew about. The...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 10, 2023 | History
When Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, passed away, he willed his entire fortune to create the Nobel Prize to award outstanding scientific achievements and improve the human condition. The most famous of these is the Nobel Peace Prize, given to the person or...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 9, 2023 | History
Women’s athletics exploded in popularity during the 1970s, thanks in no small part to Congress passing Title IX legislation in 1972. This legislation, which prohibited discrimination based on gender in federally funded sports programs, was a significant...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 8, 2023 | History
At the beginning of 1941, America was resolute in its determination to stay out of the war engulfing much of the world. The German armies had conquered most of Western Europe, and England suffered greatly under a prolonged German bombing campaign. China was fighting...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 7, 2023 | History
On December 7, 1988, the Armenian town of Spitak was abruptly thrust into a catastrophe that almost destroyed it in a matter of minutes. The sudden devastation began at 11:41 in the morning when a powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck, with an epicenter just three...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 6, 2023 | History
In a landmark event on December 6, 1998, Hugo Chávez, a former army officer and a vocal advocate for the underprivileged, was democratically elected as the President of Venezuela. This historic election heralded a new era in Venezuelan politics, as Chávez pledged...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 5, 2023 | History
On December 5, 2017, Russia received an unprecedented ban from the Winter Olympics. Following a state-sponsored doping scandal, the International Olympic Committee barred Russian athletes from competing under their national flag in the 2018 Games. This event marked a...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 4, 2023 | History
The Thanksgiving holiday, a cherished tradition in America, has a history that predates the commonly known 1621 celebration at Plymouth Rock. In fact, the true first Thanksgiving took place on December 4, 1619, in Berkeley, Virginia. This milestone event, often...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 3, 2023 | History
On December 3, 1967, the world witnessed a monumental medical breakthrough when Dr. Christiaan Barnard performed the first successful human heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. The patient, 53-year-old Louis Washkansky, received the...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 2, 2023 | History
Today in history, on December 2, 1976, a significant event unfolded as Fidel Castro assumed the presidency of Cuba. This marked a pivotal moment in the country’s history. The Cuban revolutionary had first ascended to power in February 1959, overthrowing the...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 1, 2023 | History
On December 1, 1953, Playboy magazine made its daring debut. Founded by the audacious Hugh Hefner, this inaugural issue included now-iconic photos of Marilyn Monroe in a centerfold feature, setting the stage for Playboy’s blend of celebrity allure and lifestyle...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 30, 2023 | History
On November 30, 1874, Winston Churchill, the future British Prime Minister and prominent wartime leader, was born in Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. Churchill’s life would become a remarkable journey filled with dramatic moments such as his escape from a Boer War...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 29, 2023 | History
On November 29, 1989, the Communist era in Czechoslovakia ended as the government ceded power following the Velvet Revolution. Sparked by a student-led protest on November 17, the revolution proliferated, with citizens calling for democratic reforms and an end to the...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 28, 2023 | History
On November 28, 1942, Boston was shaken by one of the deadliest nightclub fires in American history. The Cocoanut Grove, a popular nightclub, was packed with patrons celebrating the weekend when a fire quickly engulfed the building. The preventable blaze claimed...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 27, 2023 | History
Frozen premiered on November 27, 2013, and quickly became a cultural phenomenon, redefining animated films. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen, the movie tells the story of two royal sisters, Elsa and Anna, navigating love, family, and the...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 26, 2023 | History
November 26, 1979, witnessed a momentous event in history as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) formally reinstated the People’s Republic of China into the Olympic Games, ending a 21-year absence. This decision, a watershed moment, not only closed a...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 25, 2023 | History
Andrew Carnegie, born on November 25, 1835, in Dunfermline, Scotland, rose from humble beginnings to become one of American history’s wealthiest and most philanthropic figures. His journey from a poor immigrant to a steel magnate reflects both the promise and...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 24, 2023 | History
MGM released Dancing Lady on November 24th, 1933. This musical masterpiece not only brought together some of Hollywood’s biggest names but also introduced the world to the timeless talent of Fred Astaire. Starring Joan Crawford as Janie Barlow, a Broadway...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 23, 2023 | History
Franklin Pierce, born on November 23, 1804, in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, rose from modest beginnings to become the 14th president of the United States. His presidency was a pivotal moment in American history, coinciding with the escalating tensions between Northern...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 22, 2023 | History
Today, we celebrate the birth of Charles De Gaulle, born on November 22, 1890. Known for his influential role in French history, De Gaulle led the French Resistance during WWII and later became the architect of the Fifth Republic, shaping the nation’s modern...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 21, 2023 | History
November 21, 1920, became known as “Bloody Sunday” in Dublin, a day of violence that profoundly impacted the Irish War of Independence. Early that morning, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), under the command of Michael Collins, executed an attack targeting...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 20, 2023 | History
On November 20th, 1902, a journalist under pressure came up with an idea that saved his job and changed the cycling history. Bicycle races were a popular sporting event in the early 1900s, and newspapers often reported on competitions in the world of biking. One such...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 19, 2023 | History
On November 19, 1620, the Mayflower, carrying 102 passengers and around 30 crew members, finally arrived at Cape Cod after weeks of turbulent seas. Initially destined for the Virginia Colony, rough waters and challenging conditions brought the ship to present-day...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 18, 2023 | History
On November 18, 1883, educator Charles F. Dowd proposed the concept of time zones. His system, designed to create uniformity, solved the chaos of inconsistent local times and brought about a new level of efficiency. This was essential for coordinating train schedules...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 17, 2023 | History
On November 17, 1970, Douglas Engelbart was awarded the first patent for the computer mouse. Originally called the “X-Y position indicator,” Engelbart’s invention transformed how people interact with computers, paving the way for user-friendly...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 16, 2023 | History
On November 16, 2003, 16-year-old Lionel Messi debuted for FC Barcelona, starting one of the sport’s most extraordinary careers. Messi has become a football legend known for his unparalleled skills and historic achievements. Join us in celebrating the day he...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 15, 2023 | History
Today, we remember the birth of Georgia O’Keeffe, one of America’s most iconic artists. Born November 15, 1887, in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, O’Keeffe redefined American modern art with her expressive paintings of landscapes, flowers, and scenes of New...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 14, 2023 | History
Today in history, on November 14, 1865, the patent for condensing milk was awarded to Gail Borden. Borden was an American inventor and entrepreneur born on November 9, 1801. Though he didn’t have much formal education, he constantly searched for ways to improve...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 13, 2023 | History
Today in history, on November 13, 1956, the US Supreme Court ruled that race separation on buses is unconstitutional. They upheld the verdict of Browder v. Gayle, a lawsuit against Alabama and the city of Montgomery. The decision was a massive victory for the Civil...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 12, 2023 | History
On November 12, 1867, Mount Vesuvius, a 25,000-year-old volcano on the Gulf of Naples in Italy, erupted. This volcano, most famous for its catastrophic eruption in 79 A.D. that obliterated Pompeii, has erupted over 30 times since- each event leaving a unique mark on...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 11, 2023 | History
Today in history, Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky was born on November 11, 1821. Considered one of the greatest novelists of all time, he used fiction to explore spirituality, politics, sociology, and the human condition. His best-known works are Crime and...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 10, 2023 | History
The U.S. Marine Corps was officially founded on November 10, 1775, during the American Revolutionary War. Originally created as a naval infantry force, the Marine Corps has since become a vital branch of the U.S. military. It is known for its exceptional bravery,...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 9, 2023 | History
On November 9, 1965, The Great Blackout of the Northeast plunged much of the United States into darkness. The blackout began at a power plant on the Niagara River and cascaded across the northeastern United States and parts of Canada. Over 30 million people were...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 8, 2023 | History
On November 8, 1926, the musical Oh, Kay! premiered in New York City. Written by George and Ira Gershwin, the musical was immediately a hit, known for its catchy tunes and witty lyrics. With its jazz-influenced score and lighthearted plot, Oh, Kay! captured the...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 7, 2023 | History
On November 7, 1989, a historic moment unfolded as L. Douglas Wilder was elected as the Governor of Virginia, marking the first time an African American had ascended to this position in any U.S. state. Wilder’s victory was a personal triumph and a monumental...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 6, 2023 | History
Today, we reflect on a crucial day in American history. On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States. His election not only signified the rise of the Republican Party but also triggered the secession of Southern states,...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 5, 2023 | History
Today, we take a look back at a significant event in American journalism. On November 5, 1733, The New York Weekly Journal was published for the first time. Founded by printer John Peter Zenger, the paper became famous for its role in defending the freedom of the...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 4, 2023 | History
Today in history, we celebrate the birth of Walter Cronkite, one of the most influential figures in American journalism. Born on November 4, 1916, Cronkite became a beloved news anchor, often called “the most trusted man in America.” As the anchor of the...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 3, 2023 | History
On November 3, 1906, the International Radiotelegraph Conference in Berlin made a landmark decision for global safety: adopting the “SOS” distress signal as the standard call for help. The simple yet unmistakable sequence of “· · · – – – · · ·”...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 2, 2023 | History
On November 2, 1898, a group of courageous students at the University of Minnesota, led by the pioneering Johnny Campbell, officially launched organized cheerleading. Their bold initiative, aimed at boosting school spirit during a football game, unknowingly sparked a...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 1, 2023 | History
On November 1, 1997, James Cameron’s epic Titanic was introduced to the world at the Tokyo International Film Festival. This premiere marked the beginning of one of the most iconic film journeys in history, a significant moment in the annals of cinema. Titanic...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 31, 2023 | History
Some works of art may take days or a few weeks to complete, but the truly grand pieces can sometimes take years or even decades. On October 31, 1941, Mount Rushmore, one of America’s most recognizable landmarks, was finally completed after 14 years of work....
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 30, 2023 | History
On October 30, 1973, the Bosphorus Bridge was completed in Istanbul, Turkey. It was the first road bridge connecting Europe and Asia. Spanning the Bosphorus Strait, the bridge became a critical link between the two continents and a symbol of Istanbul’s strategic...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 29, 2023 | History
On October 29, 1956, NBC introduced “The Huntley–Brinkley Report,” a pioneering evening news program co-anchored by Chet Huntley and David Brinkley. The program became a staple of American television and set the standard for network news broadcasts. Known...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 28, 2023 | History
On October 28, 1955, Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the most influential figures in the tech industry, was born in Seattle, Washington. Gates revolutionized personal computing with the development of software like Windows, which became a household...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 27, 2023 | History
On October 27, 1904, New York City celebrated the opening of its subway system, a transportation marvel that changed how people navigated the bustling city. With the first line running from City Hall to Harlem, the subway quickly became an essential part of New...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 26, 2023 | History
Winston Churchill, one of the most renowned figures in British history, returned to power on October 26, 1951, becoming Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for a second time. Churchill, known for his leadership during World War II, was re-elected at 76, promising to...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 25, 2023 | History
On October 25, 1881, artist Pablo Picasso was born in Málaga, Spain. His parents were José Ruiz y Blasco and Maria Picasso y Lopez. José was an art teacher and painter. Picasso showed an interest in art from a young age, and José fostered his talent. Maria said...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 24, 2023 | History
Every trader vividly remembers October 24, 2008. Stock markets around the globe faced a catastrophic day now referred to as “Bloody Friday.” The financial crisis unfolding since 2007 reached new panic levels, leading to steep market losses in countries...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 23, 2023 | History
On October 23, 1983, tragedy struck in Beirut, Lebanon, when two suicide bombers targeted the U.S. Marine barracks and a French military base, killing 241 American servicemen and 58 French paratroopers. The attack was part of the ongoing violence in Lebanon during its...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 22, 2023 | History
On October 22, 1883, New York City witnessed the grand opening of the Metropolitan Opera House. This magnificent venue would go on to host some of the most celebrated operatic performances in the world. Built by wealthy industrialists as a rival to the established...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 21, 2023 | History
Most people associate Sydney with the iconic Sydney Opera House, a marvel of modern architecture that opened on October 21, 1973. This marked a new era for performing arts in Australia. The world-renowned structure, celebrated for its unique and intriguing design and...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 20, 2023 | History
October 20, 1935, marks the conclusion of the Long March, a grueling year-long journey that reshaped the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This 6,000-mile retreat was led by Mao Zedong and played a pivotal role in cementing his leadership. Though initially a military...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 19, 2023 | History
October 19, 1987, is etched in history as the infamous ‘Black Monday,’ a day when the stock market was rocked by its most severe one-day percentage drop. The Dow Jones Industrial Average nosedived by over 22%, triggering a wave of shock and fear of a...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 18, 2023 | History
October 18, 1945, was the historic day marking the start of the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial. This unprecedented legal proceeding held Nazi leaders accountable for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. This historic trial aimed to bring justice for the...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 17, 2023 | History
October 17, 1944, saw the beginning of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, a critical moment in World War II’s Pacific theater. This naval battle, one of the largest in history, was a crucial turning point that paved the way for Allied forces to retake the Philippines and...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 16, 2023 | History
The fight for women’s reproductive rights took a bold step forward on October 16, 1916, when Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in Brooklyn, New York. This groundbreaking clinic aimed to provide women with access to contraception, giving them...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 15, 2023 | History
The end of World War II brought the Nuremberg Trials, where key figures of the Nazi regime faced justice for their crimes. On October 15, 1946, Hermann Göring, one of Adolf Hitler’s most trusted leaders, committed suicide just hours before his scheduled...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 14, 2023 | History
On October 14, 1890, Dwight D. Eisenhower was born in Denison, Texas. Eisenhower’s contributions to American history remain monumental to this day, from leading Allied forces to victory in World War II to serving two terms as the 34th President of the United...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 13, 2023 | History
On October 13, 1884, a pivotal moment in history unfolded as representatives from 26 nations convened in Washington, D.C. Their mission: to resolve a pressing issue that had long plagued global interactions-the lack of a standardized time system. The outcome was the...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 12, 2023 | History
In the early 20th century, the automotive industry was transformed by one visionary: Henry Ford. On October 12, 1915, the Ford Motor Company produced its one-millionth car, an astonishing achievement that forever changed transportation. With the innovative assembly...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 11, 2023 | History
A select few individuals in history have made as lasting an impact on the world as Eleanor Roosevelt. Born on October 11, 1884, in New York City, she would go on to become a prominent advocate for human rights and social justice. As the longest-serving First Lady of...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 10, 2023 | History
The bicycle has been a symbol of freedom, efficiency, and sustainability for over a century. On October 10, 1899, the modern bicycle frame patent was created, introducing a design that revolutionized the cycling world. This innovation made bicycles lighter, stronger,...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 9, 2023 | History
Independence Day holds deep significance for every nation. For Uganda, October 9, 1962, marked the day the country broke free from British colonial rule. A pivotal moment in Uganda’s history, this day symbolized hope, freedom, and the beginning of...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 8, 2023 | History
Eddie Rickenbacker, one of the most successful and decorated fighter pilots in American history, was born on October 8, 1890, in Columbus, Ohio. This “Flying Ace” earned the Medal of Honor for his bravery and skill and had 26 aerial victories. Fun Facts: Eddie...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 7, 2023 | History
On October 7, 2001, the world watched as the United States launched an invasion of Afghanistan and a “War on Terror.” This marked the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom, a military campaign in response to the devastating September 11th terrorist attacks. The...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 6, 2023 | History
The Cold War, a period fraught with tension, competition, and fear, was forever altered on October 6, 1951. This was the day when Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Premier, made a momentous announcement — the Soviet Union had successfully developed an atomic bomb. This...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 5, 2023 | History
Music history was made on October 5, 1962, when The Beatles released their first record, “Love Me Do.” This single, featuring the distinct vocals of Paul McCartney and harmonica by John Lennon, introduced the world to the band that would soon become a...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 4, 2023 | History
For most of its history, Belgium was part of another territory or divided into much smaller regions. However, on October 4, 1830, Belgium officially declared independence from the Netherlands, marking the end of a significant revolution and the beginning of a new...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 3, 2023 | History
The verdict heard around the world: On October 3, 1995, O.J. Simpson was found not guilty of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. The high-profile trial captivated millions and sparked heated discussions about race, the justice system, and the power of...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 2, 2023 | History
There’s something truly awe-inspiring about being surrounded by the towering redwood trees. On October 2, 1968, California’s Redwood National Park was established, preserving some of the tallest and oldest trees in the world. These majestic giants, unique...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 1, 2023 | History
Some moments in sports transcend the games themselves, becoming legendary battles that captivate the world. On October 1, 1975, one such moment occurred in the ‘Thrilla in Manila,’ a historic event where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier squared off in an epic...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 30, 2023 | History
The world lost one of Hollywood’s brightest stars on September 30, 1955, when actor James Dean tragically died in a car crash at just 24 years old. Known for his roles in Rebel Without a Cause and East of Eden, Dean’s premature death immortalized him as a...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 29, 2023 | History
On September 29, 1789, the United States Congress officially established the U.S. Army, a pivotal moment in the nation’s history. This significant event marked the beginning of what would become one of the most formidable military forces in the world, connecting...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 28, 2023 | History
The Siege of Yorktown ended British control during the American Revolution. On September 28, 1781, American and French troops, who had formed a crucial alliance, joined forces to begin the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, in the decisive battle that led to American...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 27, 2023 | History
September 27, 1908, was a monumental day in transportation history. On this day, the first Ford Model T, a vehicle that would redefine the automotive industry, rolled out of the Detroit factory. This marked the beginning of a new era, where cars were no longer a...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 26, 2023 | History
Though there have been versions of presidential debates and discourse over the centuries of American history, many believe that the first debate that mirrors current presidential debates was held on September 26th, 1960. Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy were in the...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 25, 2023 | History
On this day in history, William Cuthbert Faulkner, a renowned American novelist, was born in Mississippi. Faulkner’s unique writing style, which combined the “stream of consciousness” technique with symbolism and settings that mirrored his Southern American...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 24, 2023 | History
In 1979, the Iranian Revolution, a series of events that led to the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty and the establishment of an Islamic republic, toppled the secular monarchy that had ruled the country, replacing it with a new, religious government. Nearby Iraq saw...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 23, 2023 | History
Today, former President Richard Nixon is mostly known for the Watergate scandal that drove him from office. However, this wasn’t the first political scandal he was involved in. In 1952, he was the Republican nominee for Vice President, and during the run-up to...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 22, 2023 | History
Most Americans are taught in school that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation, issued at the start of 1863. However, that was actually the second Emancipation Proclamation. The first one, the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, a...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 21, 2023 | History
The Hobbit was published on September 21, 1937, forever changing the fantasy genre. The genre had been around since at least the previous century, but Tolkien considered it a juvenile, non-serious form of writing. After The Hobbit (and its sequel series, The Lord of...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 20, 2023 | History
On September 20, 1984, the first episode of one of the biggest rating juggernauts in television history was broadcast: The Cosby Show. Based on the comedy of Bill Cosby, who was, at the time, a highly respected comedian with a wholesome reputation, the show told the...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 19, 2023 | History
On September 19, 1893, New Zealand made history by becoming the first self-governing country to grant women the right to vote. Governor Lord Glasgow’s signing of the Electoral Act of 1893 into law was a momentous occasion, marking the beginning of a new era for...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 18, 2023 | History
Today in history, on September 18, 1947, the US Air Force was born as its own branch of the Armed Forces. This significant event was a direct result of the transformative role air power played in World War II. In contrast to its primarily supportive role in World War...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 17, 2023 | History
On September 17, 1964, the Beatles made a significant sacrifice for their fans. Amid their inaugural American tour, they gave up a rare day off to perform at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. This was no ordinary performance. Charles O. Finney, the owner of...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 16, 2023 | History
On September 16, 1620, the Mayflower left England to begin its journey to America. Another vessel, the Speedwell, was meant to accompany it. After several leaks caused weeks of delays, though, the Speedwell clearly wasn’t seaworthy. Some of its passengers...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 15, 2023 | History
Today in history, on September 15, 1916, the first tanks were used in WWI. The British Army, shrouded in secrecy, had been quietly developing these new weapons since the previous year. Trench warfare on the Western Front had the fighting deadlocked, with both sides...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 14, 2023 | History
On September 14, 1501, Italian artist Michelangelo began sculpting the statue of David. Carving the 17-foot-tall man from a Carrara marble slab, a material known for its purity and whiteness, took him over two years. His depiction of the hero from the Biblical story...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 13, 2023 | History
On September 13, 1909, German chemist Fritz Hofmann patented the first synthetic rubber, a remarkably practical solution to the surging demand for rubber. The burgeoning popularity of bicycles and its industrial potential had rendered natural rubber, sourced from...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 12, 2023 | History
Today in history, on September 12, 1993, the Lacey V. Murrow floating bridge was opened to traffic in Seattle. It was the finale of a three-year, $93 million reconstruction of the original structure. In 1940, it opened as the first floating bridge in Seattle and the...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 11, 2023 | History
Today in history, on September 11, 1697, the Ottoman Empire and the Holy League clashed in the Battle of Zenta (in what’s now Senta, Siberia). The Great Turkish War had raged since 1683, but the two-hour battle was a turning point that led to the Ottoman...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 10, 2023 | History
September 10, 1991, marks the release of “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” the lead single from Nirvana’s second album, Nevermind. With its explosive sound and iconic riff, this song catapulted the band to international fame and played a pivotal role in...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 9, 2023 | History
September 9, 2015, stands as a significant milestone in British history. On this day, Queen Elizabeth II officially became the longest-reigning monarch in British history, surpassing her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. With 63 years and 216 days on the...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 8, 2023 | History
September 8, 1960, marks the release of one of the most influential films in cinematic history: Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho.” This psychological thriller, featuring standout performances by Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh, captivated audiences at the...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 7, 2023 | History
September 7, 1996, marks a dark day in the history of hip-hop. On this night, Tupac Shakur, an iconic figure in rap music, was shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. The incident has become one of the most notorious events in music history...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 6, 2023 | History
The First Battle of the Marne, which began on September 6, 1914, was one of the most significant early battles of World War I. Just a month after the war had erupted, this battle marked the end of the German Army’s rapid advance through France and set the stage...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 5, 2023 | History
The Munich Olympics of 1972 were intended to symbolize peace and international cooperation. However, on September 5, 1972, a terrorist attack by the Palestinian group, Black September, turned the event into a scene of horror. Eleven Israeli athletes were taken...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 4, 2023 | History
The fight for civil rights in America is punctuated by a series of pivotal events, one of the most significant being the Little Rock Crisis that unfolded on September 4, 1957. This was the day when Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus made a bold move, using the National...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 3, 2023 | History
On September 3, 1939, Britain officially declared war on Germany, setting the stage for a global conflict that would last for six long years. This declaration was a direct response to Germany’s aggressive invasion of Poland, which violated international...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 2, 2023 | History
On September 2, 1931, Bing Crosby made a historic debut on the radio, a moment that would mark the beginning of a remarkable career. His smooth voice and charismatic presence quickly made him a household name, influencing the future of radio and entertainment. Fun...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 1, 2023 | History
On September 1, 1715, France bid farewell to one of its most iconic rulers, King Louis XIV, who died after a remarkable 72-year reign. Known as the Sun King, Louis XIV’s tenure is remembered for its grandeur, absolute monarchy, and significant influence on...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 31, 2023 | History
The Kinetoscope is an early motion picture camera designed for one viewer at a time to watch a film through a tiny peephole window. On August 31, 1897, Thomas Edison was granted the patent for this invention that he designed with the help of William Dickson. Fun...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 30, 2023 | History
On August 30, 1146, a decisive moment in medieval history occurred when European leaders, including Pope Innocent II, enacted a decree outlawing the use of the crossbow. Pope Innocent II, a significant figure in medieval Europe, played a crucial role in this...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 29, 2023 | History
On August 29, 1949, the USSR secretly detonated its first nuclear weapon at a test site in Kazakhstan. Though Stalin and the Soviet political leaders were obviously delighted at a successful test run of their atomic bomb, this event sent their rival Western neighbors...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 28, 2023 | History
On August 28, 1965, Bob Dylan, the iconic folk singer-songwriter, experienced a dramatic moment of public dissent when he performed with an electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival in Queens, New York. This performance not only drew boos from the audience but also...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 27, 2023 | History
On August 27, 1883, Krakatoa, a volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia, erupted with unprecedented force. This reshaped the region and profoundly impacted the global climate. Interesting Facts: The eruption actually began on August...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 26, 2023 | History
Today, nobody would be surprised to read about a million-dollar NHL contract. Back in 1971, though, that wasn’t the case. Athletes weren’t paid on the same scale they are today, and that’s not just due to inflation. The NHL was a different landscape,...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 25, 2023 | History
On this day in history, August 25, 1991, a 21-year-old Linus Torvalds made a groundbreaking announcement on an online forum. He had created a new operating system, one that was free and open-source, and he sought user feedback to enhance it. Despite his modest...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 24, 2023 | History
Today in history, on August 24, 1814, British troops invaded Washington D.C. and burned the Capitol. The British had a long list of goals for the attack. Strategically, it distracted and removed the American military from Canada. It was also symbolic; seizing a...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 23, 2023 | History
The world seemed to be a very dark place in early 1942. The Nazis and their allies had captured vast swaths of territory across Europe and seemed like they might be unstoppable. The German war machine had even turned its attention toward Russia to take out one of the...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 22, 2023 | History
Today, the Geneva Conventions stand as a testament to the horrors of war and the international community’s efforts to mitigate them. These treaties, which govern how countries conduct war, ensure the protection of medical personnel, the provision of medical care...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 21, 2023 | History
Hawaii, once ruled by a monarch like England, saw a significant change in its history on August 21, 1959, when it officially became the 50th state in the United States of America. The 50th star on the American flag commemorated this momentous event. Fun Facts: The...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 20, 2023 | History
On August 20th, 1619, one of the darkest chapters in the history of the United States began when a group of “twenty and odd” enslaved people were delivered to the shores of British America. The captives originated from modern-day Angola and were delivered to Old Point...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 19, 2023 | History
On August 19th, 1946, the 42nd president of the United States was born. William “Bill” Clinton was born and raised in Hope, Arkansas. He attended Georgetown University and Yale Law School before serving as the State Attorney General of Arkansas. He served two...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 18, 2023 | History
On August 18th, 1919, the Anti-Cigarette League was officially established in Chicago, Illinois, marking a significant milestone in the fight against smoking. Almost 30 years after the community’s inception in 1890, Lucy Page Gaston debuted the Anti-Cigarette League...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 17, 2023 | History
On August 17, 1903, Joseph Pulitzer donated $2,000,000 to Columbia University. As a career journalist and newspaper publisher, Pulitzer wanted to leave a legacy of educating and celebrating ethical journalists. Most of the money from his donation was allocated to fund...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 16, 2023 | History
On August 16, 1896, the first gold was discovered in the Klondike region of Yukon, Canada. American George Carmack and Tagish First Nation members “Skookum” Jim Mason and Dawson Charlie found gold nuggets in Rabbit Creek (later renamed Bonanza Creek)....
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 15, 2023 | History
On August 15, 1998, the town center of Omagh in Northern Ireland was destroyed by an explosion. A 500-pound car bomb detonated in the middle of a busy shopping center at 3:10 p.m., killing 29 and injuring over 200. The bomb was planted by the dissident republican...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 14, 2023 | History
On August 14, 1947, Pakistan gained independence from the British Raj. India gained its independence the next day. Britain had controlled the area, then known as British India, since 1858. Their rule was contentious and deepened religious differences between Muslims...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 13, 2023 | History
Today in history, on August 13, 2008, U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps won two gold medals in the Beijing Olympics in under an hour. He didn’t just win the gold; he shattered records in both events. By August 17th, he captured his eighth medal, breaking the...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 12, 2023 | History
In 1479, the Ottoman Empire extended an alliance proposal to Venice, Italy, which was declined. Mehmed II, the reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire at the time, then decided to invade Italy, a plan he had pondered for a while. On August 12th, 1480, the Ottoman troops...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 11, 2023 | History
Nicknamed “the Bambino” and “Sultan of the Swat,” Babe Ruth’s monikers were a testament to his larger-than-life persona and unparalleled hitting prowess. His 500th home run, a historic moment at Cleveland’s League Park on August 11,...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 10, 2023 | History
ABC established its first television station in New York on August 10, 1948. ABC, or the American Broadcasting System, serves as the flagship company of the Disney entertainment division of the Walt Disney Company. It has served as a radio and television broadcasting...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 9, 2023 | History
On August 9th, 1945, The United States dropped “The Fat Man”- their code name for the type of atomic bomb they used- on Nagasaki, Japan. This bombing was the 2nd of the only two nuclear weapons ever used in warfare, the first being “Little Boy,” which was dropped on...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 8, 2023 | History
The Iran-Iraq War, a significant eight-year conflict from 1980 to 1988, also known as the First Gulf War, was a pivotal event in the history of the Middle East. It was sparked by Iraq’s invasion of Iran, a move aimed at exploiting Iran’s post-revolution vulnerability,...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 7, 2023 | History
Operation Desert Storm was a coded military operation led by The United States of America against the Iraq forces. On 2nd August 1990, the Iraqi government invaded and fully occupied Kuwait within two days under the leadership of President Saddam Hussein. The invasion...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 6, 2023 | History
August 6, 1890, was no ordinary day for the state of New York, for it was the first time a state would use an electric chair for execution. Neither was it a typical day for William Kemmler, for he was about to go down in history as the first man to be executed by the...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 5, 2023 | History
Most people associate Newfoundland with its impressive whale population, rich history, wonderful wildlife, and incredible people. But when and where was this Newfoundland found? On August 5, 1983, Humphrey Gilbert, an English explorer under the royal charter of...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 4, 2023 | History
Louis Armstrong, born in the challenging neighborhoods of New Orleans on August 4, 1901, faced early hardships. His profound love for music, nurtured from a tender age, propelled him to become one of the most revered jazz musicians of all time. He even sacrificed his...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 3, 2023 | History
On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer and navigator, set sail with three ships to explore a western sea passage to the East Indies. He hoped to profit from the very lucrative spice trade and believed his journeys would create a more accessible...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 2, 2023 | History
Every great band has a humble beginning, and The Beatles are no exception. Their journey started on August 2, 1961, when John Lennon first took the stage with The Beatles bandmates at the Cavern Club. This basement club, nestled in Liverpool’s 10 Mathew Street,...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 1, 2023 | History
France was plagued by religious wars in the Gregorian era. One of these skirmishes led to the untimely death of King Henry III, who ruled from 1574 until his untimely demise on August 1, 1589, at the hands of an assassin. Fun Facts Among his many titles, King Henry...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 31, 2023 | History
It’s hard to imagine an event that could reshape a city’s landscape as drastically as a relentless fire. This is exactly what happened to Stockholm, a city that had not yet implemented housing planning to control and limit the spread of fire. The Stockholm...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 30, 2023 | History
The Virginia House of Burgesses was formed on July 30, 1619, establishing the first democratically elected legislative body in the American colonies. Governor Sir George Yeardley convened the meeting at the new timber church on Jamestown Island, Virginia. In...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 29, 2023 | History
The Tipperary Revolt became notable in Irish history on July 29, 1848. The Young Ireland Movement sparked it in response to the British government’s crackdown on Irish nationalists. The revolt’s leaders, like William Smith O’Brien and Thomas Meagher,...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 28, 2023 | History
On July 28, 1794, a dark chapter in French history closed with the execution by the guillotine of Maximilien Robespierre and his followers in Paris. Robespierre was a leading figure in the French Revolution and had become synonymous with the brutal period known as the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 27, 2023 | History
On June 27, 1999, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk etched his name in history by landing the first-ever “900” at the X Games in San Francisco. This gravity-defying trick requires the skateboarder to complete a mind-blowing two-and-a-half spins mid-air on a...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 26, 2023 | History
At the turn of the 20th century, technological advancements such as the telegraph, railroad, and telephone were instrumental in bridging the vast distances across America, even as the nation continued its westward expansion. After decades of industrialization, the USA...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 25, 2023 | History
Operation Spring, the Canadian assault on Verrières Ridge, is a significant chapter in Canadian military history. On July 25, 1944, the Black Watch, a Montreal-based English-speaking battalion, displayed immense bravery in the face of a staggering blow, with over...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 24, 2023 | History
Alexandre Dumas, a French renowned writer and playwright, was born on 24th July 1902. You may know him as the genius behind works like The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers. He is one of the most widely read French authors, and his works have been...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 23, 2023 | History
The Act of Union 1840 was passed on July 23rd, 1840. It proclaimed to unify Upper and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada with one unified governing body. Many changes took place, including abolishing French as a national language. It is rare for two countries to...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 22, 2023 | History
On July 22, 1942, The Nazis sent 300,000 Jews to the Treblinka extermination camp, marking a tragic chapter in history. This massive deportation of the Jewish people began the so-called “Great Deportation” or “liquidation action” of the Warsaw...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 21, 2023 | History
The Trans-Siberian Railway was officially opened on July 21, 1904, after 25 years of construction. The track runs through Russia, from Moscow in the west to Vladivostok in the east. The 9,289km line is the longest railway line in the world, spanning eight time zones....
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 20, 2023 | History
Many knew Alice Mary Robertson as outgoing, hardworking, strong-willed, and generous to a fault. Perhaps these qualities allowed her to achieve her career milestones. Alice Mary Robertson became the United State’s first Congresswoman on July 20th, 1921. She...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 19, 2023 | History
The infamous animated duo, Tom & Jerry, made their first television appearance on July 19th, 1941 in a short film titled The Midnight Snack. Though first seen over 80 years ago, the dastardly duo -Tom & Jerry- is still a staple cartoon in many homes. Tom...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 18, 2023 | History
Nelson Rolihlala Mandela, born on July 18, 1918, was the son of Chief Henry Mandela of the Mandiba Clan, which belonged to the Xhosa-speaking Tembu people. While studying at Fort Hare University, he became involved in politics, and he served as the first president of...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 17, 2023 | History
On July 17th, 1996, the Trans World Atlantic Flight 800 exploded in mid-air. This tragedy was one of the deadliest aviation accidents on record, taking the lives of all 230 passengers on board. Although the National Transportation Board first suspected foul play,...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 16, 2023 | History
In the heart of the New Mexico desert, project leader and physicist Robert Oppenheimer and his team set off an explosion that would mark the dawn of the nuclear age. On July 16, 1945, the world changed forever when the Manhattan Project team successfully detonated the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 15, 2023 | History
On July 15, 1799, the Rosetta Stone was found, unlocking the secrets of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Imagine unearthing a key that unlocks a hidden world- the excitement would be palpable. That’s exactly what happened on July 15, 1799, near a small town called...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 14, 2023 | History
On July 14, 1795, “La Marseillaise” became France’s national anthem, solidifying a powerful symbol of liberty and national pride. But “La Marseillaise” wasn’t always destined to be a national glory. Its origins trace back to the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 13, 2023 | History
Umpires make split-second decisions during games, which can lead to disagreements and disputes. Tempers flared on the baseball diamond on July 13, 1941, and it wasn’t just because of the California sun. Eddie Mayo, the passionate third baseman for the LA Angels...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 12, 2023 | History
Concord, Massachusetts, a place soon to be forever entwined with American literature, welcomed a new voice on July 12th, 1817. The influential American essayist, poet, and philosopher Henry David Thoreau was born that hot summer day. He was the third child of the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 11, 2023 | History
Not many men and women are born with a fate quite like that of John Quincy Adams. On July 11, 1767, John Quincy Adams made his grand debut in Braintree, Massachusetts Bay, British America. He would go on to become a renowned politician. A man, a son, a husband, a...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 10, 2023 | History
The Jedwabne Pogrom was a massacre of Polish Jews that took place in the town of Jedwabne, Poland, during the early stages of the Holocaust. Details of the Jedwabne Pogrom massacre that took place on July 10, 1941, are gory but an important part of history. For...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 9, 2023 | History
The 14th Amendment, ratified on July 9, 1868, granted citizenship to all persons naturalized in the United States and provided complete legal protection for all citizens. The Confederate states bitterly contested the 14th Amendment because it gave the right to...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 8, 2023 | Uncategorized, History
On July 4th, 1776, Congress passed the Declaration of Independence. Later, on July 8th, it would be read out to the public simultaneously at noon from three different locations. The Declaration of Independence was officially released a year after the American...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 7, 2023 | History
Today in history, on July 7, 1898, Congress passed a joint resolution incorporating Hawaii as a territory of the United States. It was the finale of a decades-long effort to dismantle the island nation’s monarchy, and this was President William McKinley’s...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 6, 2023 | History
Today in history, on July 6, 1747, John Paul Jones was born in Scotland. His birth name was John Paul; he added “Jones” around 1773, a couple of years before becoming a world-renowned naval captain. Jones was living in America when the Revolutionary War...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 5, 2023 | Uncategorized
The second Continental Congress, on July 5, 1775, adopted the Olive Branch petition. Congress would subsequently sign the petition three days later, on July 8. This petition aimed to avoid further war between Great Britain and the 13 colonies that made up...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 4, 2023 | Uncategorized
Today in history, on July 4, 1882, more than 2,000 Native Americans excitedly set out after the first buffalo herd they’d seen in years. The Sioux of the Standing Rock Reservation were ecstatic, turning their days of preparation into a celebration. Not everyone...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 3, 2023 | History, Uncategorized
On July 3, 1988, Iranian Flight 655 departed Tehran, Iran, at approximately 10:47 AM, with Dubai as its final destination. Unfortunately, it was shot down by the USS Vincennes, captained by William C Rogers. The Airbus A300 had 290 souls on board, all of whom...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 2, 2023 | History, Uncategorized
On July 2, 1881, at Washington D.C.’s Potomac Railroad Station, President James A. Garfield was shot twice. He was less than four months into his presidency. Garfield arrived at the station a few minutes early for his 9:30 a.m. train to New York. He was on his way to...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 1, 2023 | Uncategorized, History
Every sovereign country in the world celebrates a national holiday or something similar. For Canada, that day is July 1st, appropriately called Canada Day. Previously known as Dominion Day, Canada Day is one of the few nationwide statutory holidays. Here are a few fun...
by qdmhistory | Feb 28, 2023 | History
On February 28, 2013, a team of scientists set out to conduct an unprecedented experiment – connecting the brains of two rats together in order to bridge the gap between biology and technology. This experiment was part of a larger project aiming to explore the...
by qdmhistory | Feb 27, 2023 | History
On February 27, 1990, one of the longest-standing traditions aboard Royal New Zealand Navy ships came to an end—the daily rum ration. In a solemn ceremony in Wellington Harbor, sailors bid farewell to their beloved "Black Tot Day," a tradition that stretched...
by qdmhistory | Feb 26, 2023 | History
On February 26, 1973, a momentous event occurred in the world of horse racing—Secretariat was purchased for a record-breaking $5.7 million! This purchase not only set a new standard for the thoroughbred horse industry but also marked the beginning of an incredible...
by qdmhistory | Feb 25, 2023 | History
On February 25, 1862, an important milestone was reached in America's financial history as Congress passed a law that created the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP). This agency was tasked with producing the nation's paper currency—which...
by qdmhistory | Feb 24, 2023 | History
On February 24th, 2020, scientists made an incredible discovery – evidence of a parasite that could survive without the need for oxygen. This discovery was made during a routine examination of salmon tissue samples and has since had significant implications for...
by qdmhistory | Feb 23, 2023 | History
Today marks the anniversary of a fateful day in history. On February 23, 1998, Osama bin Laden published his infamous fatwa titled "Jihad against the Jews and Crusaders." This document set out to declare holy war against Jewish and Christian people...
by qdmhistory | Feb 22, 2023 | History
Today marks the anniversary of the major environmental and wildlife icon Steve Irwin. Born on February 22, 1962, his life was devoted to conservation and education about the natural world. To this day, he is remembered for his unwavering dedication to animal rights...
by qdmhistory | Feb 21, 2023 | History
The story of the young maid, Joan of Arc, has captivated historians for centuries. On February 21, 1431, she faced her first court-ordered interrogation after being accused of heresy and witchcraft for her refusal to renounce her visions. Joan was only 19 years old...
by qdmhistory | Feb 20, 2023 | History
On February 20th, 1944, a key event in World War II history happened – the Allied forces' assault on Enewetak Atoll's island near the Marshall Islands. This battle was praised for its careful strategy and planning, which ultimately helped to secure control...
by qdmhistory | Feb 19, 2023 | History
A Controversial Release: The Story of Typhoid Mary Mallon's First Period of IsolationOn February 19th, 1910, a momentous event happened in the history of public health – Mary Mallon, otherwise known as “Typhoid Mary” due to her association with numerous outbreaks...
by qdmhistory | Feb 18, 2023 | History
On February 18, 1930, an American astronomer by the name of Clyde Tombaugh made a discovery that would forever change the way we view outer space. His startling find? The planet now known as Pluto. Though tiny and situated in the most distant reaches of our solar...
by qdmhistory | Feb 17, 2023 | History
On February 17th, 1876, Julius Wolff made history in Eastport, Maine, when he successfully canned the first ever can of sardines. This accomplishment marked the beginning of a piscine revolution – making it possible to preserve and enjoy fish without ever having to...
by qdmhistory | Feb 16, 2023 | History
On February 16, 1923, Howard Carter achieved one of the greatest archeological feats of all time when he opened the inner burial chamber of King Tutankhamun's tomb. In doing so, Carter became the first person in over 3,000 years to lay eyes on the final resting...
by qdmhistory | Feb 15, 2023 | History
On February 15, 1936, Adolf Hitler announced plans to construct a new car – the Volkswagen Beetle. This iconic automobile was created in response to the German people's need for an affordable four-wheeled vehicle. A People's CarPrior to WWII, most cars in...
by qdmhistory | Feb 14, 2023 | History
On February 14, 1849, the 11th president of the United States, James K. Polk, became the first sitting president to have his picture taken. The photographer responsible for this remarkable feat was none other than Mathew Brady, who captured an iconic image of...
by qdmhistory | Feb 13, 2023 | History
On February 13, 1886, painter Thomas Eakins resigned from Philadelphia's prestigious Academy of Fine Arts after a controversial disagreement over his use of male nudes in a coed art class.Who is Thomas Eakins?Thomas Eakins was an American realist painter who...
by qdmhistory | Feb 12, 2023 | History
On February 12th, 2013, North Korea conducted its third nuclear test since 2006. This test marked a significant step toward the nation's development of nuclear weapons capability – one which was quickly denounced by the United Nations and international allies...
by qdmhistory | Feb 11, 2023 | History
February 11, 1978, marked a major shift in cultural heritage as the Chinese government lifted a decades-long ban on works by three iconic Western authors: Aristotle, William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens. This decision opened the door for millions of people in China...
by qdmhistory | Feb 10, 2023 | History
February 10, 2005, marked a momentous event in British Royal Family history with the official announcement of Charles, the Prince of Wales’ engagement to Camilla Parker Bowles. Here’s what you need to know about this iconic event and how it impacted public opinion on...
by qdmhistory | Feb 9, 2023 | History
February 9th, 1947, marks a day that will never be forgotten in the city of Philadelphia. On this day, notorious bank robber Willie Sutton shocked the city by escaping custody from Eastern State Penitentiary in an attempt to evade justice for years of criminal acts –...
by qdmhistory | Feb 8, 2023 | History
February 8th, 1926, marked a momentous event in animation history with the official founding of Walt Disney Studios. Here’s what you need to know about this iconic moment and how it shaped the industry's future.BackgroundBrothers Walt and Roy O. Disney originally...
by qdmhistory | Feb 7, 2023 | History
February 7th, 1845, marks a day that will forever be remembered as a tragic moment in history. On this day, The Portland Vase, a priceless and irreplaceable Roman glass vase, was broken by a drunken visitor in an Oxford museum. Background of the VaseThe Portland Vase...
by qdmhistory | Feb 6, 2023 | History
February 6, 1971, marked a historic moment in space exploration when American astronaut Alan Shepard made golfing history. During Apollo 14's mission to the moon, Shepard became the first person ever to hit a golf ball on another celestial body. Here's what...
by qdmhistory | Feb 5, 2023 | History
On February 5, 1811, the British monarchy went through an unprecedented change. King George III was declared insane, and his eldest son, Prince George IV, was then appointed as Regent in order to rule on his father's behalf. This decision was one of the most...
by qdmhistory | Feb 4, 2023 | History
On February 4th, 2004, a little website called “Thefacebook” changed methods of communication forever. On this day in history, then 19-year-old Mark Zuckerberg from Dobbs Ferry, New York, launched the now social media platform from his Harvard dorm room. What started...
by qdmhistory | Feb 3, 2023 | History
On February 3, 1959, a tragedy that became known as “The Day the Music Died” shocked young people across the country. On this day, three of the most iconic musicians in American music history- Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson- were killed when their...
by qdmhistory | Feb 2, 2023 | History
On February 2, 1709, British sailor Alexander Selkirk was rescued by William Dampier after spending five years marooned on a desert island. Although the experience itself was undoubtedly grueling and difficult, it eventually provided the inspiration for one of...
by qdmhistory | Feb 1, 2023 | History
Abraham Lincoln is one of the most celebrated figures in American history. He is widely remembered for his role in leading the United States through the Civil War, preserving the Union and abolishing slavery. As President, he was also instrumental in implementing a...
by qdmhistory | Jan 31, 2023 | History
Today in history, on January 7, 1874, Jesse James and his gang of outlaws rode into Gads Hill, Missouri, with a plan to replenish their cash supply. Jesse, Frank, and three of the Younger brothers robbed the general store and held townspeople hostage as they waited...
by qdmhistory | Jan 30, 2023 | History
In the early morning of January 30, 1889, Crown Prince Rudolf Franz Karl Joseph of the Habsburg-Lorraine line of monarchs allegedly shot himself in the head. History records his death as a murder-suicide pact with his lover, Baroness Mary Vetsera, who was found naked...
by qdmhistory | Jan 29, 2023 | History
After Russia lost the war to Japan, calls for revolution intensified as the working class felt the pinch of the loss. Tsar Nicholas II of Russia enacted reforms on January 29, 1905, to improve the living conditions of workers. Although the Tsar was able to quench the...
by qdmhistory | Jan 28, 2023 | History
The 1889 Exposition Universelle was France's time to shine on the world stage. Also known as a World's Fair, the 1889 Expo was France's chance to show the world it had shaken off revolutionary idealism that ravaged the country 100 years ago. As the...
by qdmhistory | Jan 27, 2023 | History
André Roussimoff was a professional wrestler and actor from France. He was born in 1946 and found fame in his successful wrestling and acting careers. He is better known as “André the Giant,” which was his wrestling ring name. André earned this nickname because of his...
by qdmhistory | Jan 26, 2023 | History
On January 26, 1972, Vesna Vulovic, a Serbian air stewardess, survived an incredible fall from 10,160 meters (33,330 feet) without a parachute. Vulovic was a 22-year-old flight attendant working for JAT Yugoslav Airlines when her flight, JAT Flight 367, was hit by a...
by qdmhistory | Jan 25, 2023 | History
On January 25th, 1858, Felix Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" was performed at the wedding of Princess Victoria, the daughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, and Crown Prince Frederick William of Prussia. Mendelssohn wrote the music at the young...
by qdmhistory | Jan 24, 2023 | History
On January 24, 1848, James W. Marshall found gold nuggets while at work in the Sacramento valley.How James Marshall Came To Sutter’s MillJames Marshall was born on October 8, 1810, to a rural family in New Jersey. After contracting Malaria while working on a farm in...
by qdmhistory | Jan 23, 2023 | History
On January 23, 1937, Karl Radek, alongside16 other men, stood before the court during the Second Moscow Trial. This trial was one piece of Stalin’s Great Purge to rid the country of threats, predominantly Trotsykyists and those who opposed Stalin's regime of...
by qdmhistory | Jan 22, 2023 | History
Growing up, Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov had no idea of the impact he would have on his country. From developing the RDS-37 (the Soviet Union’s first hydrogen bomb) to winning a Nobel peace prize, he has made a lasting impact on the world. However, on this day in 1980,...
by qdmhistory | Jan 21, 2023 | History
A Parisian baker, family man, and devoted husband, Henri Littière could no longer put up with his wife's promiscuous ways, so he found a solution— the chastity belt.What Is A Chastity Belt? A chastity belt, device, or garment is designed to prevent the woman...
by qdmhistory | Jan 20, 2023 | History
Only one President of the United States has ever served more than two terms. The two-term limit had been the tradition since George Washington refused the invitation to run for a third term. Washington didn't want to contribute to divisive politics that had...
by qdmhistory | Jan 19, 2023 | History
The options for men’s undergarments have evolved a lot over the generations. In the 1800s and the early 1900s, men wore one-piece underwear that combined an undershirt and drawers. These drawers were often made out of cotton, linen, or wool. In the 1920s the novel...
by qdmhistory | Jan 18, 2023 | History
On January 18, 2016, Oxfam, a global movement of people working together to fight poverty, shocked the world by revealing how a large portion of global wealth is managed by just a few billionaires worldwide. Oxfam’s report shared that 62 billionaires cumulatively have...
by qdmhistory | Jan 17, 2023 | History
More than a century ago, the United States embarked on a path to ban alcohol sales, transportation, and consumption throughout the country. The ban meant that the hundreds of thousands of pubs throughout every corner of the country would have to stop selling beer,...
by qdmhistory | Jan 16, 2023 | History
On January 16, 2006, history was made as Nobel Laureate Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was sworn into office as Africa's first female president. BackgroundEllen Johnson-Sirleaf was born on October 29, 1938, in Monrovia, Liberia, as Ellen Eugenia Johnson. Despite the...
by qdmhistory | Jan 15, 2023 | History
Today Wikipedia turns 22 years old! For 22 years people have found a seemingly infinite source of information at their fingertips thanks to the volunteers of the site known as “Wikipedians.” Wikipedia currently boasts over 60 million articles. Jimmy Wales and Larry...
by qdmhistory | Jan 14, 2023 | History
On January 14, 1794, a baby girl was born to the Bennett family deep in the Virginia backwoods. This delivery, however, was no ordinary birth, for the child was delivered through cesarean section. Dr. Jesse Bennett performed the lifesaving procedure after his...
by qdmhistory | Jan 13, 2023 | History
On January 13, 1959, French President Charles de Gaulle commuted the death sentence of over one hundred Algerian freedom fighters. This move was one of the French President’s first official acts after taking office less than a week earlier. The French- Algerian...
by qdmhistory | Jan 12, 2023 | History
Gustav Erikson was born at the Rydaholm Castle into the well-off Vasa noble family. His father was Erik Johansson Vasa, and his mother was Cecilia Mansdotter Eka. Resistance Against The Kalmar Union In the 14th century, Sweden entered into the Kalmar Union with...
by qdmhistory | Jan 11, 2023 | History
It’s been 15 years since J.K. Rowling finished the 7th and final novel in the Harry Potter series in room 552 of The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh. On January 11, 2007, the author strolled out of the hotel, having finished the Harry Potter series, the conclusion...
by qdmhistory | Jan 10, 2023 | History
When the U.S. government officially recognized Villa's adversary and erstwhile ally Venustiano Carranza as Mexico's president in October 1915, tensions between the U.S. and Pancho Villa were high. To make matters worse, the United States also provided train...
by qdmhistory | Jan 9, 2023 | History
Things were looking bad for Britain in the fight against Napoleon in the late 1790s. French forces were better organized than Britain's, and an invasion was imminent. As if that weren't bad enough, Britain's government finances were a disaster. To...
by qdmhistory | Jan 8, 2023 | History
Two hundred sixteen years ago, on January 8, 1806, the Lewis and Clark Expedition came across the skeleton of a 105-foot whale. The Discovery After the holidays in 1805, news reached Fort Clatsop that a huge whale had washed ashore and perished near a Tillamook...
by qdmhistory | Jan 7, 2023 | History
On either December 26th, 1609 or 1610 (the sources are conflicting), at the behest of King Matthias, Count Gyorgy Thurzo investigated Csejthe Castle in Hungary and found Countess Elizabeth Bathory supervising a torturing session of young women. Bathory had been safe...
by qdmhistory | Jan 6, 2023 | History
The man who would one day lead an insurrection against the British in the New World was George Washington. By the late 1750s, George Washington was the leader of Virginia's provincial army. He had made a name for himself in the New World, fighting local indigenous...
by qdmhistory | Jan 5, 2023 | History
Historical documents provide context for past moments in time. For instance, on January 5, 1930, Mao Zedong wrote a letter to Lín Biāoin in which he was critical of how his Party would proceed with its revolution. Almost a century later, this letter is one of the...
by qdmhistory | Jan 4, 2023 | History
Topsy was a female elephant secretly brought into the United States and added to a herd of performing elephants. She was born in Southeast Asia around 1875 but was marketed as the first elephant born in America. Topsy The Circus Elephant She spent 25 years performing...
by qdmhistory | Jan 3, 2023 | History
Before the second world war realigned European borders, WWI brought devastating destruction to much of Europe. The casualties were such a shock to citizens and soldiers that it is sometimes called the Great War, the war to end all wars. It was hoped the Treaty of...
by qdmhistory | Jan 2, 2023 | History
On January 2, 1890, the biggest alligator ever shot and killed was reportedly 19.2 feet long. The hunter was a younger version of Edward Avery McIlhenny before establishing a hot sauce empire. No photos or other records back up the facts about this beast of an...
by qdmhistory | Jan 1, 2023 | History
One of Johnny Cash's most iconic live albums is Johnny Cash at San Quentin (1969). By the late sixties and the live album recording, Cash has cemented his reputation as a music industry outsider. He identified with convicts in a way most musicians couldn't,...
by qdmhistory | Dec 31, 2022 | History
Cherrapunji, also known as Sohra, is a town in East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India. The town is the traditional capital of ka him Sohra (Khasi tribal Kingdom).Most of us have never seen more than a few millimeters of rainfall at a time. That is unless you've been...
by qdmhistory | Dec 30, 2022 | History
On New Year's Eve of 1853, renowned sculptor Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and influential paleontologist Sir Richard Owens celebrated the completion of the "Crystal Palace Dinosaurs" by holding a banquet inside the life-size model of an Iguanodon.The...
by qdmhistory | Dec 29, 2022 | History
While in the modern era, a woman wearing pants is a common, accepted sight. However, in 1852, such a sight was one that caused alarm for much of the citizenry in Boston, Massachusetts.Snodgrass Breeches BostonRaised in New York by her father, a Police Captain, Emma...
by qdmhistory | Dec 28, 2022 | History
Sometimes those inventions we consider useful in our everyday lives get discovered accidentally. Some inventors fail but also win because something else came out of the trials. Some inventors aren't inventors but are doing some other kind of work. Such was the...
by qdmhistory | Dec 27, 2022 | History
In 1998, moviegoers bought tickets to see yet another disaster movie about the end of the world. The film was Armageddon, earning more than $500 billion worldwide. Comets and asteroids were already national topics of discussion because of a comet called Hale Bopp,...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 26, 2022 | History
On December 26, 1982, TIME magazine awarded a computer its annual Man of the Year award, marking the first time it was given to an inanimate object in the 55-year history of the award. This issue symbolized the changing times and highlighted how technology began to...
by qdmhistory | Dec 25, 2022 | History
The Christmas Truce of December 25, 1914, refers to a series of unofficial ceasefires that occurred along the Western Front during WWI. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day of 1914, German and British soldiers who were fighting in the trenches of Belgium and France...
by qdmhistory | Dec 24, 2022 | History
Dr. Anthony Fauci is an American physician and immunologist. He has served as the director of the NAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) since 1984 and has been a leading figure in the field of immunology for over five decades. In addition to his...
by qdmhistory | Dec 23, 2022 | History
Dr. Joseph E. Murray performed the first successful human kidney transplant on December 23, 1954. The operation was performed at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and involved a transplant from one identical twin to another. The recipient, Richard...
by qdmhistory | Dec 22, 2022 | History
Fyodor Dostoyevsky is often considered one of the world's greatest authors. However, his life was not always fame and fortune. In fact, his life was far from comfortable. From begging for money to facing a firing squad, here's the story of Fyodor Dostoyevsky....
by qdmhistory | Dec 21, 2022 | History
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered on December 21, 1937, in a sold-out theater in Los Angeles. Actually, the advanced demand for the tickets was so high that buyers were limited to four tickets per person, and a crowd of 30,000 people gathered outside the...
by qdmhistory | Dec 20, 2022 | History
Between 1958 and 1960, Elvis Presley, the famous Rock and roll musician, served in the American Army. Many community members welcomed the draft as they considered his music a desecration, eroding the moral fabric that held society together.Fun Facts:Elvis Presley had...
by qdmhistory | Dec 19, 2022 | History
On December 19, 1958, President Eisenhower delivered a radio message to the nation. It was only 57 words long, but they were very important words telling the world that America wishes for peace on earth and goodwill toward men. The meaning was clear, no hot war with...
by qdmhistory | Dec 18, 2022 | History
December 18, 1892 marks the day “The Nutcracker” premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia, a week before the country’s Christmas celebrations. Behind the Scenes The origin of this Classic Christmas story is based on two acts with life lessons for the...
by qdmhistory | Dec 17, 2022 | History
While swimming in an area near Portsea, Victoria, Prime Minister Harold Holt suddenly vanished without a trace. A massive search party was put together, and despite many hours spent looking for him, they never found his body.BackgroundHarold Holt was born on August 5,...
by qdmhistory | Dec 16, 2022 | History
Alcatraz spent 29 months holding some of the country's most notorious criminals, including Al Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, and Robert Franklin Stroud. Despite being dubbed as inescapable, several prison escapes were made on the island. Over the...
by qdmhistory | Dec 15, 2022 | History
Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the best-known historical figures associated with France. However, it took nineteen years for Napoleon’s funeral. Why, you may ask? After he lost his last battle, he was exiled to the Island of Elba in the Mediterranean Sea, this...
by qdmhistory | Dec 14, 2022 | History
She was only six days old when Princess Mary Stuart inherited the Scottish Crown. Born December 8, 1542, the infant queen was too young to take over the daily tasks of the head of state. In her place, regents, and for a time, her mother ruled Scotland. Princess Mary...
by qdmhistory | Dec 13, 2022 | History
The prospect of a global court that could levy punishment on sovereign nations is a relatively new system that's barely a century old. By the end of the nineteenth century, the world's strongest countries had established colonies worldwide. This created the...
by qdmhistory | Dec 12, 2022 | History
Franz Joseph Haydn was born in Austria on March 31, 1732. Sixty years later, he would give Ludwig Van Beethoven his first music composition lesson on December 12, 1792. At 22, Ludwig Von Beethoven may not have realized it, but this lesson began a remarkable career as...
by qdmhistory | Dec 11, 2022 | History
As the world adopts new technology, surgeons in South Africa remain at the forefront of medical progress after conducting the first successful penile transplant. On December 11, 2014, a team of 11 medical practitioners from Cape Town's Stellenbosch University and...
by qdmhistory | Dec 10, 2022 | History
On December 10, 1936, Edward VIII signed an instrument of abdication allowing him to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. This event caused a constitutional crisis in the British empire.Wallis Simpson's BackgroundWallis was born Bessie Wallis Warfield on June...
by qdmhistory | Dec 9, 2022 | History
On December 9, 1868, the first traffic lights were installed outside the Palace of Westminster (House of Parliament). Traffic Lights For the RailroadTraffic lights were invented by J P Knight, a railway signaling engineer. They were a response to the chaotic junction...
by qdmhistory | Dec 8, 2022 | History
Annie Leibovitz is an American portrait photographer famous for celebrity photos for magazine layouts. On December 8, 1980, Leibovitz had a scheduled shoot with John Lennon. She had promised him his photo would be on the cover of Rolling Stones Magazine. However, the...
by qdmhistory | Dec 7, 2022 | History
Words cannot express how important major league baseball was to American life during the Great Depression. Thus, when Lou Gehrig was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on December 7, 1939, America celebrated the life of a fallen hero.Gehrig had only...
by qdmhistory | Dec 6, 2022 | History
Thomas Aquinas had been a prolific writer his entire life. But on December 6, 1273, Aquinas put down his quill and never wrote again. He reportedly told a colleague that he "cannot, because all that I have written seems like straw to me." Why does it matter...
by qdmhistory | Dec 5, 2022 | History
O.J. Simpson's trial was probably one of the most famous trials in modern times; it aired in almost every media outlet back in the day. The story that O.J. Simpson had been convicted for the murder of his ex-wife and her friend Ronald Goldman spread, and people...
by qdmhistory | Dec 4, 2022 | History
Suttee, also called sati, is an Indian custom where a woman sacrifices herself soon after her husband has passed on as a show of devotion to him. It is an ancient practice that dates back as early as 510 CE. There is evidence of suttee stone memorials spread...
by qdmhistory | Dec 3, 2022 | History
The Bhopal India gas explosion is the worst human-caused environmental disaster the world has ever seen.Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL)Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) built a pesticide plant in 1969 to meet the needs of farmers ravaged by crop failures. In the...
by qdmhistory | Dec 2, 2022 | History
While many people associate the roaring twenties with parties, a lot more happened during this time. In fact, the 1920s got the nickname partly because the United States had found its industrial strength. The American economy boomed as new industries and products were...
by qdmhistory | Dec 1, 2022 | History
August 1936 to March 1938 marked one of the bloodiest eras in the soviet's history. Joseph Stalin orchestrated the Great Purge to regain power and control over the communist party disguised as a call for justice for the death of Sergey Kirov, a high-ranking...
by qdmhistory | Nov 30, 2022 | History
Evel Knievel was an American stuntman and performer that knew how to put on a show. Throughout his career, he attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps and was even inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999. BackgroundEvel Knievel was born Robert Graig...
by qdmhistory | Nov 29, 2022 | History
American novelist Louisa May Alcott was a short story writer and poet that was particularly famous for creating colorful and relatable characters and female heroines in her 19th Century novels.She is best known for her novel Little Women, which depicted women as...
by qdmhistory | Nov 28, 2022 | History
We've all seen in movies some grand gesture or profession of love spelled out in the sky. But the history of skywriting is a lot less romantic. In fact, it comes from a very practical need. The First SkywritersSkywriting was first developed by the British Royal...
by qdmhistory | Nov 27, 2022 | History
Omar Bongo was Gabon's president for 42 years and Africa's longest-ruling head of state when he died in 2009. His death caused controversy as his son (Ali Bongo) was set to assume power as head of the ruling political party in the constitutionally mandated...
by qdmhistory | Nov 26, 2022 | History
Ask any American grade schooler about pilgrims, and the responses will likely contain the name of a ship called the Mayflower. The story about settlers landing in Plymouth after sailing across the Atlantic Ocean is part of the American origin story. Also part of this...
by qdmhistory | Nov 25, 2022 | History
November 25, 1986, started like hundreds of previous days in the U.S. White House. It was President Ronald Reagan's second term, one swamped with sensationalized news stories and controversy. Against this backdrop, President Reagan had always insisted he would not...
by qdmhistory | Nov 24, 2022 | History
As Northwest Orient Airlines flight 305 took off on November 24, 1971, passengers didn't know they would be in for a harrowing experience. It should have been a short uneventful flight between Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. Instead, the flight became...
by qdmhistory | Nov 23, 2022 | History
Poon Lim was a Chinese sailor who survived 133 days on a wooden raft. He was a steward in a British Merchant Navy Ship that had been torpedoed in November 1942. About 75 years ago, on April 5, 1943, Lim was rescued by some Brazilian fishermen off the coast of...
by qdmhistory | Nov 22, 2022 | History
Just 9 weeks into her pregnancy, Naomi Findlay got word that her daughter had ectopia cordis, a rare condition in which the breastbone fails to develop. The result is that the heart and part of the stomach grow outside of the baby’s body. While most babies with this...
by qdmhistory | Nov 21, 2022 | History
While opioids are currently limited to drug addicts and the terminally ill in America, there was a time when the drug was much more common. Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, the drug was often eaten, drunk or smoked to obtain a sense of well being, euphoria and...
by qdmhistory | Nov 20, 2022 | History
The Napoleonic wars featured a series of conflicts between the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon Bonapart, against various European states. They were large-scale attacks on European adversaries and led to a period of French domination in Europe. Though a...
by qdmhistory | Nov 19, 2022 | History
Isn't it funny how even pencils have an origin? Today's post features the Frederick E Blaisdell Pencil that debuted in the 1800s. The pencil was an improvement from grease pencils—all you had to do once the graphite wore out was unwrap up more of the...
by qdmhistory | Nov 18, 2022 | History
On November 18, 1916, Douglas Haig called an end to the Allied offensive Battle of the Somme after over four months of fighting. The final tally of dead and wounded mounted in excess of 1 million.Bloody BeginningsDuring the lead-up to the battle, the Allies had...
by qdmhistory | Nov 17, 2022 | History
After more than a decade of Philadelphia serving as the de-facto capital of the then-nascent United States, congress moved to its permanent meeting place in Washington D.C. on November 17, 1800.On the MoveThroughout the early years of the United States, congress met...
by qdmhistory | Nov 16, 2022 | History
On November 16th, 1938, Swiss chemist Dr. Albert Hofmann discovered LSD for the first time. His famous line, "I did not find LSD, LSD found me," emphasizes the innocent nature of the discovery of the drug. Hofmann was a plant science specialist and examined...
by qdmhistory | Nov 15, 2022 | History
The Vietnam Moratorium Day was one of the largest protests in world History. Many nations had interests in the Vietnam War, and this public outcry was the world's way of saying it was enough. How the Moratorium Got Organized The Vietnam Moratorium was organized by...
by qdmhistory | Nov 14, 2022 | History
Taking inspiration from "Around the World in Eighty Days," investigative reporter Nellie Bly began her own attempt at circumnavigating the globe on the 14th of November, 1889.The Journey BeginsAt 9:40 a.m., Nellie Bly boarded the Augusta Victoria, bound for...
by qdmhistory | Nov 13, 2022 | History
The endless pursuit of wealth driven by determined businessmen led to Hawaii’s collapse as a monarchy. The newly formed Hawaiian Fruit & Packing Company shipped its first cases of canned pineapple on November 13, 1895. The company was formed to compete with...
by qdmhistory | Nov 12, 2022 | History
On this day in 2021, pop rock icon Brittney Spears finally became a responsible adult, at least according to the end of the conservatorship that dictated most of her adult life. Born on December 2nd, 1981, Spears is a forty-something singer/songwriter who always finds...
by qdmhistory | Nov 11, 2022 | History
It was a close and controversial vote by the three parts of the General Synod, the governing body of the Church of England. But on November 11, 1992, the Synod narrowly gave the nod to allow the ordination of women priests. Like suffrage movements, The Church of...
by qdmhistory | Nov 10, 2022 | History
The Berlin Wall was a visible symbol of the often invisible Cold War. For decades it had been a jagged scar cutting through Berlin. Then on November 10, 1989, officials started their momentous task of taking it down. The East German government didn't have a...
by qdmhistory | Nov 9, 2022 | History
The 1985 World Chess Championship was played between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Kasparov. The game was held between September 3 and November 9, with Kasparov emerging as the thirteenth and youngest world champion.Fun Facts:Garry Kasparov was born on April 13, 1963, in...
by qdmhistory | Nov 8, 2022 | History
November 8, 1966 was a memorable day for California. This California Gubernatorial election was the most one-sided political race yet, with Ronald Reagan winning almost unanimously. His Hollywood fame and political charisma propelled him into a favorable candidate...
by qdmhistory | Nov 7, 2022 | History
On November 7, 1974, 29-year-old Sandra Rivett was working as a nanny. She walked into the dark basement of her apartment in London but never walked out. Only an hour later, Lady Veronica Lucan ran bleeding into a nearby pup claiming her husband had just killed the...
by qdmhistory | Nov 6, 2022 | History
You have probably heard "The Stars and Stripes Forever" or "The Thunderer" in your school band or at different Marine Band celebratory performances. However, most people don't know the person behind these marches. Join us as we read more about...
by qdmhistory | Nov 5, 2022 | History
Since its beginnings a century ago, Monopoly has been played over a billion times. The first version came from Elizabeth Magie and was known as The Landlord's Game. However, constant refinements over the years made it what it is today.Some argue that Magie’s...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 4, 2022 | History
On November 4, 1890, London etched its name in history with the launch of the world’s first electrified railway. This monumental leap in transportation revolutionized how people moved within the city and positioned the London Underground as the trailblazer of...
by qdmhistory | Nov 3, 2022 | History
When the Soviets launched Sputnik 2 on November 3, 1957, another round of anxious concern swept through American leadership at the Pentagon, White House, and indeed all Americans. It had been less than a month since the Soviets launched Sputnik into space, igniting...
by qdmhistory | Nov 2, 2022 | History
You may not think cheerleading is a sport. Indeed, how hard can it be to get in front of a crowd of sports fans cheering for your side? Not so fast! Cheerleaders practice and perform remarkable tumbling, jumping, and dancing techniques that resemble gymnastic floor...
by qdmhistory | Nov 1, 2022 | History
Throughout the nineteenth century, Dr. Emile Roux and his contemporaries had been collaborating – and competing – to find treatments for the world's communicable diseases. In the modernist age, science and medicine had made significant leaps before Roux introduced...
by qdmhistory | Oct 31, 2022 | History
The day is October 31, 1756, in "The Leads," the prison section in the Doge Palace. Giacomo Casanova has been sentenced to 5 years in solitary confinement for crimes committed against rich men and women in Italy. However, Casanova did not finish his...
by qdmhistory | Oct 30, 2022 | History
It was not uncommon for Orson Welles, American director, actor, screenwriter and producer, to make broadcasts on air. In fact, by October 30, 1938, Welles had already made a name for himself through radio adaptations of popular books, including a 7-week series on Les...
by qdmhistory | Oct 29, 2022 | History
The topic of Birth control policies is controversial in different contexts, mostly being dismissed by religious and prolific groups. On 29th October 2015, China ended the 35-year-long birth control project, which contextually ended their overpopulation fears. The...
by qdmhistory | Oct 28, 2022 | History
On October 28, 1904, the Saint Louis Police Department began using fingerprints to identify potential subjects in investigations. Using fingerprints for identification started thousands of years earlier when Hammurabi mentioned using fingerprinted wax seals. People...
by qdmhistory | Oct 27, 2022 | History
On October 27, 1858, Teddy Roosevelt was born. On October 27, 1880, he married the love of his life, Alice Hathaway Lee. The two settled down into a pleasant routine of married life, where Roosevelt worked as a New York State Assemblyman and saved money by combining...
by qdmhistory | Oct 26, 2022 | History
Smallpox is a deadly disease that leaves its victims full of painful pustules along the head, trunk, and legs. There was a time when about 3 out of every 10 people who contracted the disease died, and those who survived still risked permanent scars and blindness. The...
by qdmhistory | Oct 25, 2022 | History
In 1854, Britain, France, and Turkey were at war with Russia in Crimea. And, on October 25, they fought valiantly to keep the Russians from capturing the strategically valuable port of Balaclava. The battle was going pretty well, too, even though the Russians had just...
by qdmhistory | Oct 24, 2022 | History
Al Capone’s name still echoes through American history as one of the most notorious gangsters to hit the streets of Chicago. His life story and legacy are featured in numerous books and films. Even the City of Chicago cashes in with tourist dollars from daily tours of...
by qdmhistory | Oct 23, 2022 | History
It’s not uncommon for a government to spend more than it can raise in taxes. When that happens, the Federal Government borrows money to cover the required deficit. When the government has a surplus, it pays off the outstanding debts. However, the US reached a major...
by qdmhistory | Oct 22, 2022 | History
Prior to 1907, The Knickerbocker Trust Company's headquarters stood sedately in Midtown Manhattan. It seemed nothing could shake the 23-year-old trust company. That all changed the morning of Tuesday, October 22, 1907, when many businesses, state banks, and local...
by qdmhistory | Oct 21, 2022 | History
After the UN rejected the Russian demands, USSR's nuclear project under Joseph Stalin began the Atomic bomb project.The UN rejects Russia's bid to have the US destroy all its Nuclear weapons. On October 21, 1948, the end of the trials to enter an age of...
by qdmhistory | Oct 20, 2022 | History
Google is the most successful tech company in history. The company currently controls virtually more than half of the US businesses, as search rankings determine the amount of business an organization will experience. Google also accounts for about 90% of...
by qdmhistory | Oct 19, 2022 | History
On October 19, 2015, Geochemists at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) found evidence of life's existence from at least 4.1 billion years ago, about 300 million years earlier than any previous research suggested. Furthermore, this discovery indicated...
by qdmhistory | Oct 18, 2022 | History
On October 18, 1867, the US agreed to buy Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. During the treaty signing, the Russian Minister to the US, Edouard de Stoeckl, and the US Secretary of State, William Seward, negotiated the deal that saw the handover of Alaska to the US...
by qdmhistory | Oct 17, 2022 | History
Evel Knievel, a popular motorcycle stunt performer, was born on October 17th, 1938. He held the record for 35 years for jumping over the most stacked cars, which stood until October 2008. His customized Harley Davidson XR-750, made of aluminum, steel, and fiberglass,...
by qdmhistory | Oct 16, 2022 | History
On October 16th, 1384, Jadwiga was crowned King in the capital of Poland. She was crowned by Queen Elizabeth and sent to Poland after her failed marriage proposal to the Duke of Masovia. There she reigned as Queen until 1386 when she married Wladyslaw, who became King...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 15, 2022 | History
The enigmatic life of Mata Hari, originally Margaretha Zelle, has held people in its spell for more than a century. Once a celebrated exotic dancer and courtesan, she met a tragic end on October 15, 1917, accused of espionage for Germany during World War I. Her life...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 14, 2022 | History
Few leaders have left as profound a legacy as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On October 14, 1964, Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance in the struggle for racial equality in America. His leadership in the civil...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 13, 2022 | History
Music and poetry, two inseparable art forms, found their master in Bob Dylan. On October 13, 2016, Dylan’s name was etched in history as he became the first musician to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. This groundbreaking moment not only celebrated his...
by qdmhistory | Oct 12, 2022 | History
In a world fraught with fears about a potential Y2K bug inside every computer on Earth, the United Nations introduced the official day the 6th billionth person would be born. And in the wee morning hours of October 12, 1999, it happened. The Six Billionth Person Was...
by qdmhistory | Oct 11, 2022 | History
On this day in history, October 11, 1922, Alaska Davidson was appointed as a special investigator in the FBI at the age of 54. Although women had worked with the FBI, Davidson was the first to fill the role of a special investigator. Unfortunately, her time did not...
by qdmhistory | Oct 10, 2022 | History
It was a brutally hot day in October 1871 as a heat wave engulfed the Midwest. Only a fraction of normal rainfall fell that summer, resulting in dry wooden buildings and sidewalks throughout the city. Nobody knows when or how, but a fire reportedly started in the...
by qdmhistory | Oct 9, 2022 | History
All the fans that followed Elvis and Priscilla's love story may already know why this day in history remains significant in the couple's lives. On this day, October 9, 1973, they finalized their divorce and co-parented until August 16, 1977, when Elvis died at...
by qdmhistory | Oct 8, 2022 | History
On October 8, 1869, United States President Franklin Pierce died at 64. He succumbed to liver cirrhosis and died at his home in New Hampshire. He was the first and only president from New Hampshire; President Franklin Pierce was the 14th president of the United...
by qdmhistory | Oct 7, 2022 | History
For most of maritime history, sailing the open oceans meant captains coped with storms as a consistent threat. Such was the case in October 1737, when a storm formed in the North Indian Ocean and then went north, slamming into the mouth of the Hooghly River close to...
by qdmhistory | Oct 6, 2022 | History
If you were in or near Chicago, Illinois in mid-late 2016, there was no getting around baseball fever. Baseball was on fans' minds everywhere, and for good reason. The Cubs finally had the chance to vanquish a curse that had plagued them since October 6, 1945. A...
by qdmhistory | Oct 5, 2022 | History
On the morning of October 5th, in the marketplace of Paris, a group of women began to gather.The Price of Bread and a DrumOn the precipice of a revolution in France, the price of bread, and violence, were on the rise. Caused by poor policy decisions and a particularly...
by qdmhistory | Oct 4, 2022 | History
WikiLeaks, created on October 4, 2006, was said by Julian Assange to have been created to allow the press to more quickly access and cover information leaks.Founding and First LeaksJulian Assange, taking inspiration from the release of the Pentagon Papers of 1971,...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 3, 2022 | History
Dafydd ap Gruffydd was Prince of Wales for less than a year before he was executed by King Edward I of England. What events led up to this, and how was his execution carried out? The Conquest of Wales Following the defection of Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn and Dafydd ap...
by qdmhistory | Oct 2, 2022 | History
First published in 1902 by Frederick Warne & Co., The Tale of Peter Rabbit is an endearing story that continues to be popular nearly a century after its original publication.Behind the TaleThe Tale of Peter Rabbit first began in a series of letters and...
by qdmhistory | Oct 1, 2022 | History
The Model T was one of the first automobiles to become widely available to consumers and led to the proliferation of the automobile industry. How did Ford do it, and what other effects did it have on American society?The Model T and Its BeginningsFollowing the...
by qdmhistory | Sep 30, 2022 | History
World War II will go down in history as the darkest ages in humanity's past. After the Germans surrendered, the International Military Tribunal held war trials for 199 defendants for the crimes committed during the war.Allied nations, namely the United States,...
by qdmhistory | Sep 29, 2022 | History
On September 29, 1916, American business magnate John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) was announced as the United States of America's first billionaire for his ownership of Standard Oil. His total net worth comprised 2% of the USA's GDP on this day. His dedication...
by qdmhistory | Sep 28, 2022 | History
The Yellow River flood was a three-part flood that occurred in 1887, 1931, and 1938; collectively, the disaster claimed approximately two million lives and left 80 million families homeless. The first flooding occurred on September 28, 1887, and between 1 to 2 million...
by qdmhistory | Sep 27, 2022 | History
Pope Urban VII (1521-1590, born Giovanni Battista Castagna) reigned for only 13 days, ending on September 27, 1590. He passed away from malaria before being consecrated.BackgroundCastagna was a highly educated man, having studied at several Italian universities and...
by qdmhistory | Sep 26, 2022 | History
On September 26th, 1815, Russia, Prussia and Austria all collaborated on and formalized an alliance to reinstall the divine right of kings and unify Christianity across these three major world powers. While many diplomats and other public servants ridiculed the...
by qdmhistory | Sep 25, 2022 | History
You have probably heard of Sandra Day O'Connor, Ronald Reagan's nominated candidate for Justice, and the fulfillment of his promise to elect a female Justice. On 21st September 1981, the Senate elected Sandra Day O'Connor unanimously. She became the first...
by qdmhistory | Sep 24, 2022 | History
The Judiciary Act of 1789 was an Act to establish the judicial courts of the USA. Formerly, Article III of the constitution had a generality and gaps whose solutions would be achieved politically. But following the revised ACT, Congress established a limited...
by qdmhistory | Sep 23, 2022 | History
During the summer of 1821, the Greek forces gained early victory during the Greek War of Independence. The battle against the Ottoman Empire began earlier that year and saw the massacre of 30,000 Turks and Jews. During the Greek War of Independence, they were led by...
by qdmhistory | Sep 22, 2022 | History
On September 22, 1994, the famous American sitcom "Friends" debuted on NBC. It featured six friends, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Courtney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Lisa Kudrow, living in New York. Of the six friends, Jennifer Aniston was...
by qdmhistory | Sep 21, 2022 | History
On September 21, 1982, the NFL players Union went on strike to mount pressure on the franchise owners. During the longest strike in sports history, the primary demand of the players association, headed by Ed Garvey, was that its members should receive 55% of the...
by qdmhistory | Sep 20, 2022 | History
On September 20, 2019, Swedish-born Greta Thunberg led the world's largest climate change protest in Manhattan, New York, dubbed School Strike for Climate Movement. The strike occurred three days before the United Nations Climate Summit, and it rallied other...
by qdmhistory | Sep 19, 2022 | History
On September 19, 1985, a catastrophic magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Mexico City. The quake originated more than 200 miles west of the capital. After the earthquake, President Miguel de la Madrid played down the damage and rejected international aid offers. In...
by qdmhistory | Sep 18, 2022 | History
The Moscow catastrophe started on September 14 as many small fires quickly got out of control, forming a massive blaze across the many wooden structures. The fire, set under the command of Rostopchin, quickly spread into the Kremlin's arsenal, although the French...
by qdmhistory | Sep 17, 2022 | History
The Battle of Antietam, also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, was a battle between Union Gen. George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac and Confederate Gen. Robert E.Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. It took place on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg,...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 16, 2022 | History
On September 16, 1620, the Mayflower left England to begin its journey to America. Another vessel, the Speedwell, was meant to accompany it. After several leaks caused weeks of delays, though, the Speedwell clearly wasn’t seaworthy. Some of its passengers...
by qdmhistory | Sep 16, 2022 | History
When General Motors opened shop in September 1908, William C. Durant could not have known that GM would eventually hold a 77-year win streak for the world's top-selling auto manufacturer. GM lost the top spot in 2008 to a Japanese automaker. Indeed, the Great...
by qdmhistory | Sep 15, 2022 | History
Google has, over the years, become a large part of our daily lives. We depend on Google products and services to navigate our environment, gain fast hand information and the tap of a screen and many more ways. But when is Google's official birthday?Every year,...
by qdmhistory | Sep 14, 2022 | History
On September 14, 2020, astronomers reported identifying potential life on Venus. Astronomers looked at Venus's atmosphere and cloud structures with the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) in Hawaii and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) observatory in...
by qdmhistory | Sep 13, 2022 | History
One night in his dream Paul McCartney composed a song and rushed to write it down and compose it when he woke up, fearing that he would forget it. Later, this song became known as "Yesterday," one of the band's popular releases.In August 1965, the...
by qdmhistory | Sep 12, 2022 | History
On September 12th, 1958, the supreme court ordered the integration of high schools in the Little Rock High School District. The integration plan was countered by many citizens, all aimed at preventing the initiative from pushing forward.After long battles in court and...
by qdmhistory | Sep 11, 2022 | History
On September 3rd, 1783, three representatives of the United States, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and John Adams, congregated with the representatives of the British Crown to sign what was later known as the Treaty of Paris.On this day, September 11th, 1783, after the...
by qdmhistory | Sep 10, 2022 | History
September 10 marks a macabre miracle: the improbable survival of Mike, the Headless Chicken on a Colorado farm in 1945. On a late summer day on his farm, Lloyd Olsen was sent outside to grab his five-month-old rooster for dinner. This was a fairly normal practice;...
by qdmhistory | Sep 9, 2022 | History
Born on 9/9/1890, in Henryville, Indiana, Harland David Sanders was a successful American entrepreneur. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) was the brainchild of Colonel Harland Sanders, who formerly cooked simple country dishes at a roadside gas station in Corbin,...
by qdmhistory | Sep 8, 2022 | History
On this day, Michelangelo Buonarroti unveiled the massive 17-foot tall, 12,000 lbs. white Italian Carrara marble Statue of David in Florence, Italy. The massive statue depicts a naked David, the Biblical King who used a slingshot to kill Goliath. After three years of...
by qdmhistory | Sep 7, 2022 | History
Baby Edith Eleanor McLean was born, weighing just 2 pounds 7 ounces. She was placed in an incubator, then known as a hatching cradle. Most premature babies cannot maintain an average body temperature without external help, making the incubator a necessary medical...
by qdmhistory | Sep 6, 2022 | History
Over 100 years ago, President William McKinley was shot twice using a 32-caliber Iver Johnson revolver. The perpetrator, Leon Czolgosz, was arraigned in court and tried, quickly found guilty, and executed. After just six months in office for his second presidential...
by qdmhistory | Sep 5, 2022 | History
September 5, 1839, marked the beginning of the first opium war between the Qing Empire and the United Kingdom. Despite the losses incurred by the Chinese, this war would not be the last opium war for China. Each time, the Qing Chinese lost mostly due to inferior...
by qdmhistory | Sep 4, 2022 | History
On September 4, 1927, Charles Lindbergh visited Boise (Idaho) on his cross-country tour. The actor and adventurer also performed the first solo, nonstop flight across the Atlantic, starting from New York and ending in Paris. Charles Lindbergh was a pioneer in...
by qdmhistory | Sep 3, 2022 | History
On September 3, 1938, Frederick Douglass escaped slavery at Covey’s farm, disguising himself as a sailor. While in captivity, he performed forced labor at Baltimore’s shipyards. And during the daring escape, he acquired papers from a freed black sailor to...
by qdmhistory | Sep 2, 2022 | History
On Sunday, September 2, 1666, the Great Fire of London broke out, devastating the city. The fire accidentally began in the house of the King's baker in Pudding Lane near London Bridge. Farriner, his family and a servant managed to escape through an upstairs...
by qdmhistory | Sep 1, 2022 | History
The last Passenger Pigeon to roam the earth was named Martha. She has a colorful history with a few tales of how she came to be. Some believe she came from a flock of birds at the University of Chicago under Professor Charles Otis Whitman’s care. Others believe that...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 31, 2022 | History
On August 11th, 1992, the infamous Ruby Ridge standoff between the FBI and self-proclaimed white separatist Randy Weaver officially came to an end. The standoff lasted 11 days after Weaver refused to appear in court when he was charged with the possession and sale of...
by qdmhistory | Aug 30, 2022 | History
Numerous unknown objects constantly move around the earth, the sun, and the moon. Scientists observe the movements of these objects and any coalitions that occur using tools sent to space. These tools orbit the earth at calibrated speeds and distances from each other....
by qdmhistory | Aug 29, 2022 | History
On August 29, 1533, Atahualpa, the last Sapa Inca Emperor, was executed. He had just briefly ruled after defeating his brother. The previous emperor ordered his brother's and his family's execution to end any bloodline that could threaten his reign.Atahualpa...
by qdmhistory | Aug 28, 2022 | History
On August 28, 1963, Luther gave an inspiring speech at the Lincoln Memorial in a bid to end racial segregation in the US. And it sparked controversy and equal success in the US democracy concerning racial equality. In the middle of the Washington march for jobs and...
by qdmhistory | Aug 27, 2022 | History
The Anglo-Zanzibar Military conflict between the UK and Zanzibar Sultanate in 1896 lasted only 38 minutes. And it was a conflict in response to the ascension of Sultan Khalid bin Barghash after the death of the pro-British Sultan Hamad. The shortest war in human...
by qdmhistory | Aug 26, 2022 | History
On August 26, 1873, Susan Blow opened the first free Kindergarten in St. Louis, Missouri. And soon after, kindergarten classrooms across the country started using Blow’s classroom as an education model. By 1879, the St. Louis school system had 53 kindergarten...
by qdmhistory | Aug 25, 2022 | History
For almost 200 years, The Lancet has been bringing peer-reviewed medical news, findings, and facts to the medical and scientific communities. With these journals, the rest of the world would (and still does) find cutting-edge information. While there has never been a...
by qdmhistory | Aug 24, 2022 | History
NBC had a sure bet when it came to televising the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Spanning both summer and winter television audiences, previous Olympic Games garnered millions of viewers spread throughout the globe. With its 11th production of the Olympics, NBC...
by qdmhistory | Aug 23, 2022 | History
Hurricanes begin as tropical depressions, areas in the lower atmosphere where wind speeds increase with thunderstorm clouds spinning counter-clockwise around an area called a “low-pressure” zone. Once the winds reach 39 mph and above, the “tropical...
by qdmhistory | Aug 22, 2022 | History
Known worldwide as “Nessie,” The Loch Ness Monster remains a curiosity for cryptid hunters as they continue documenting sightings. The Loch is one of many in the Inverness region. The first recorded sighting may have been part of the legend-making process...
by qdmhistory | Aug 21, 2022 | History
Vincenzo Peruggia was an Italian museum worker and art thief. He is most famous for stealing the Mona Lisa on August 21, 1911. The police theory was that Peruggia hid inside the museum the previous day, knowing the museum would be closed the next day. It’s not...
by qdmhistory | Aug 20, 2022 | History
In 1741, Vitus Bering became one of the first Europeans to discover Alaska. So who was Vitus Bering, and what led him to this achievement? The Expeditions of Bering Born to a family of modest wealth, Bering eschewed the path of higher education expected for him,...
by qdmhistory | Aug 19, 2022 | History
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built on this day in 1909, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, and was proclaimed a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The automobile racing circuit is the former home of the US Grand Prix and currently...
by qdmhistory | Aug 18, 2022 | History
The Hardest Day is one of the bloodiest days in history, with the German Luftwaffe invading Great Britain’s Airspace. Soon after the fall of France, Germany wanted the British to seek a peace settlement and give up without a fight, but Great Britain was...
by qdmhistory | Aug 17, 2022 | History
John White set out with Richard Grenville in 1585 in a quest to conquer Roanoke Island and ultimately colonize it. The settlement did not fare well due to constant attacks from Indians and dwindling food supplies.The roots of one of the oldest unsolved mysteries in...
by qdmhistory | Aug 16, 2022 | History
In August 2012, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange obtained asylum from the government of Ecuador. Different governments pursued Assange following allegations of cybercrime and sexual misconduct. Background Julian Assange was born in Australia, although he maintained...
by qdmhistory | Aug 15, 2022 | History
The Omagh bombing on August 15, 1998, by the Real Irish Republican Army was the single deadliest attack during the three-decades-long Troubles in Northern Ireland. The attack happened a few months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, a document laying out...
by qdmhistory | Aug 14, 2022 | History
The German silent horror film, The Student of Prague, was first released in 1913 and later remade in 1926, 1935, and 2004. This film was BBC's first feature film airing in a 1938 broadcast on August 14th. The horror film directed by Arthur Robison stars Theodor...
by qdmhistory | Aug 13, 2022 | History
Annie Oakley was born on August 13, 1860, and died on November 3, 1926. Born Phoebe Ann Moses (or Mosey), this amazing woman was an American target shooter and starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Despite coming from humble beginnings, she performed before...
by qdmhistory | Aug 12, 2022 | History
On August 12, 1851, Isaac Singer patented his sewing machine. The invention resulted from years of development and was quickly adopted by the tailoring trade. Singer would later introduce various innovations to his machines, making them easier to operate and more...
by qdmhistory | Aug 11, 2022 | History
The beautiful and talented Robin Williams passed away on August 11, 2014. Best known for his comedic work in films such as Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, and Aladdin, Robin Williams is one of the most influential and admired actors of all time. Robin was born...
by qdmhistory | Aug 10, 2022 | History
In 1793, the Louvre palace opened in Paris. Originally built as a fortress to provide defense for Paris, the Louvre would eventually become famous for its extraordinary art collections. This event would have a lasting impact on public attitudes towards collecting and...
by qdmhistory | Aug 9, 2022 | History
On this day in 1898, the inventor of the diesel engine, Rudolf Diesel, was granted a patent for his oil-burning engine. This powerplant is operated by compression ignition, where only air and fuel are needed to work efficiently. Unlike steam engines, diesel engines...
by qdmhistory | Aug 8, 2022 | History
On August 8, 1945, the Soviet Union established a communist government in North Korea. The USSR had occupied North Korea two years earlier and installed a communist regime to help rebuild the country. Despite ongoing opposition from the U.S., China and South...
by qdmhistory | Aug 7, 2022 | History
August 7 marks the Assyrian Martyrs Day commemorating 3,000 Assyrians whom the Iraqi government slaughtered on August 7, 1933.The Assyrian people are one of the oldest (predominantly Christian) communities in Mesopotamia. They have lived in Mesopotamia for more than...
by qdmhistory | Aug 6, 2022 | History
On August 6, 1996, Punk rock band the Ramones performed for the last time at the Palace in Hollywood. This was their grand finale show on this date, marking their official retirement from live performance after over thirty years of touring. Fun Facts About the Punk...
by qdmhistory | Aug 5, 2022 | History
On this day in 910, the last of the Viking army to raid England was defeated at the Battle of Tettenhall. In early August AD910, a Viking force under King Olaf the White, led by a large flotilla of ships, attacked Nottinghamshire and raided Northampton. But on 5...
by qdmhistory | Aug 4, 2022 | History
On August 4, 1944, in Amsterdam, Anne Frank and her family were captured by the Nazi Gestapo. On that fateful day, the police in Nazi-controlled Amsterdam raided a warehouse and captured the eight Jews who had been hiding in an annex that was disguised behind a...
by qdmhistory | Aug 3, 2022 | History
The German Empire invaded Belgium and France on this day in history and began WW1. The war was to end in 1918.August 3 is a historic day because it marks the start of World War I. On August 3, 1914, Germany invaded Belgium and France, prompting Britain to declare war...
by qdmhistory | Aug 2, 2022 | History
You’d be hard-pressed to find a household that hasn’t heard of Apple Inc. From the iPod to the iPhone, AirPods, MacBooks and iPads, this international corporation has become a leading name in quality computer software and devices. So it may be no surprise to learn...
by Sarah Zappitelli | Aug 1, 2022 | History
On August 1, 1086, William I of England was given the results of his Domesday inquiry. This inventory, known as the Domesday Book, was a complete survey of all taxable land in England and Wales. It was a significant administrative feat, as previous kings had attempted...
by Sarah Zappitelli | Jul 31, 2022 | History
On July 31st, 1971, the first rover landed and drove on the Moon. This mission was known as Apollo 15. Before this successful mission, 14 astronauts died while trying to get to the moon in space flight. Commander Scot inscribed their names on a small plaque behind the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 30, 2022 | History
On this day, the Soviet Union’s secret police, the NKVD, issued Order No. 00447. This order showcased what would now be considered genocide in our current age- it proposed that “traitors” and “exclusively bandit originators” be...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 29, 2022 | History
When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into space in late 1957, it ignited a new phase in the Cold War. The United States, recognizing the need to respond, was spurred into action by the infamous “Space Race.” This competition for space supremacy was the driving force...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 28, 2022 | History
On the morning of July 28, 1945, 75 years ago, New York City was covered in a thick gloomy fog. Betty Lou Oliver made her way to work at the Empire State Building, where she worked as an elevator girl. Elevator girls were in charge of managing the elevators before...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 27, 2022 | History
On July 27, 1586, Sir Walter Raleigh, returning from Virginia, is widely credited with introducing tobacco to England. He also brought back potatoes and maize from Roanoke Island, present-day Virginia. An amusing anecdote tells of his servant’s reaction to...
by qdmhistory | Jul 26, 2022 | History
On this day in 1896, the Vitascope Hall opened in New Orleans. This was the first for-profit movie theater in the United States and would also serve as a stage to show films shot in France and England. The theater hosted a group of people whose lives have gone on to...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 26, 2022 | History
On this day in 1896, the Vitascope Hall opened in New Orleans, offering a unique entertainment experience as the first for-profit movie theater in the United States. It also served as a stage to show films shot in France and England, introducing a new form of...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 25, 2022 | History
On July 25, 1908, a significant culinary discovery was made-MSG was discovered in Kombu soup stock, leading to the birth of Ajinomoto. Initially known as Ajinomoto Shokai Co., Ltd., the company was founded in 1912. It has since evolved into one of the world’s...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 24, 2022 | History
On July 24, 1832, Benjamin Bonneville became the first to bring wagon trains across the Rocky Mountains through the South Pass in Wyoming on the notorious Oregon Trail. Bonneville, a courageous American officer in the United States Army, embarked on a daring...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 23, 2022 | History
On July 23, 1961, Grace Bumbry, a 24-year-old African American soprano from St. Louis, Missouri, displayed remarkable courage as she became the center of controversy in West Germany. She was the first black singer to perform at the Bayreuth Opera Festival, a historic...
by Sarah Zappitelli | Jul 22, 2022 | History
On Friday, July 22, 2011, Norway experienced a set of twin terrorist attacks. Anders Breivik, a 32-year-old Norwegian man, drove a van packed with a homemade fertilizer bomb and parked it in front of a government block in Oslo. A few minutes later, the bomb...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 21, 2022 | History
On July 21, 1925, John T. Scopes was found guilty of teaching evolution in the “Scopes Monkey Trial” in Dayton, Tennessee, and he was subsequently fined $100 plus additional costs. Dayton’s “Monkey Trial” involved a lawsuit filed by the State...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 20, 2022 | History
On July 20, 1881, in the aftermath of Lieutenant Colonel Custer’s defeat at Little Bighorn, Sioux Chief Sitting Bull, a symbol of resilience, surrendered to U.S. troops after being promised amnesty for himself and his people. The Sioux uprising of 1876 had...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 19, 2022 | History
On July 19, 1843, the city of Bristol awoke to a rainy day. Still, the excitement that permeated the air could be felt by all the celebrities, onlookers and travelers gathering at the Great Western Dockyard. Here, Prince Albert would soon oversee the launch of the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 17, 2022 | History
On July 17, 1762, the Senate announced the Manifesto signed by Empress Catherine II on her ascension to the throne as the sole ruler of Russia. It wasn’t long after that, on October 3 of the same year, that she was officially crowned as the autocratic ruler of...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 16, 2022 | History
On July 16, 622, Muhammad began his journey from Mecca to Medina, fleeing persecution for teaching and spreading Islam. The prophet Muhammad was born in the year 570 to Abd Allah bin Al-Muttalib and Amina bint Wahb. He was raised in Mecca, the holy city. When he was...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 15, 2022 | History
If you’ve ever flown on an airplane, there is a good chance you were on a Boeing. The Boeing Company, a global powerhouse, is one of the world’s largest aerospace manufacturers. With over 10,000 Boeing commercial airplanes in service today, the company’s global...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 14, 2022 | History
American actress Jane Marie Lynch was born on July 14, 1960, to a Catholic family in Evergreen Park, Illinois. Her father, Frank Lynch, was a banker, while her mother, Eileen Lynch, was a secretary turned homemaker. Lynch fell in love with acting in third grade...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 13, 2022 | History
The 1943 Battle of Kursk, the most renowned tank battle in history, was a colossal conflict that began on July 5, 1943, during World War II and raged on for over a month. This epic battle unfolded on the Eastern Front, pitching the Germans against the Russians. The...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 12, 2022 | History
On July 12, 1804, Vice President Aaron Burr fatally shot his long-time political rival Alexander Hamilton. The two leaders never saw eye-to-eye, which led to this historic duel. Hamilton was the leader of the Federalist Party, having authored many Federalist...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 11, 2022 | History
To Kill A Mockingbird is a novel written by American author Harper Lee. It was published on July 11, 1960, achieving instant success and acclaim. The story centers around a young girl growing up in Alabama during the 1930s. Loosely based on events and people from the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 10, 2022 | History
On July 10, 1913, Greenland Ranch in Death Valley was listed to record the highest temperature ever at 134°F. This recording still stands as the highest air temperature ever reliably measured. However, you may enjoy knowing that Death Valley is a little bit “cooler”...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 9, 2022 | History
The famous break-in of Buckingham Palace remains unbelievable 40 years after the incident. In one of Her Majesty’s most extraordinary moments, the intruder received a light sentence for stealing a bottle of Prince Charles’ wine. The July 1982 breach of the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 8, 2022 | History
The Vermont Colony made history by being the first colony to abolish slavery, but the state’s history is full of struggle. Vermont land was bought from New Hampshire’s Colonial Governor and was under the control of New York. The settlers resisted recurrent...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 7, 2022 | History
On July 7, 1947, in Roswell, New Mexico, there was much talk around town about unexplained flying objects in the sky. William Brazel, a local, announced that he found a large wreckage area while working at Foster Ranch in Lincoln County (75 miles north of Roswell). He...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 6, 2022 | History
On July 6, 1785, about a decade after the Continental Congress convened to discuss the terms of the Declaration of Independence, the use of the United States dollar was adopted as the official monetary unit of the country. At the same time, the Continental Congress...
by qdmhistory | Jul 5, 2022 | History
Amazon began in Jeff Bezos' garage in Bellevue, Washington, on July 5, 1994. It was originally conceived as a bookstore, but four years later. In 1998, the website started offering music and videos. At this time, the company, still true to its original conception,...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 5, 2022 | History
Amazon, which had its humble beginnings in Jeff Bezos’ garage in Bellevue, Washington, on July 5, 1994, was initially a bookstore. However, within four years, the website expanded its offerings to include music and videos. Staying true to its roots, the company...
by qdmhistory | Jul 4, 2022 | History
On July 4, 1803, only 27 years after the fight for independence and when Thomas Jefferson was President of the United States, the country grew to twice its size as a result of the Louisiana Purchase. With the addition of the Louisiana territory's 530 million...
by qdmhistory | Jul 3, 2022 | History
The Battle of the Horns of Hattin was the most important military confrontation of the Second Crusade. It took place over two days, on July 3 and 4 in the year 1187. It involved the Crusaders of the Levant and the armies of the Muslim general Saladin, Sultan of Egypt...
by qdmhistory | Jul 2, 2022 | History
July 2, 1823, is probably one of the most important dates in Brazilian history. On that date, the rule of Portugal in Brazil finally ended when the crown loyalists were summarily defeated in the province of Bahia. The battles that allowed for the final victory started...
by qdmhistory | Jul 1, 2022 | History
On this day in 1863, America’s bloodiest battle began at Gettysburg. During this first day, General Lee urgently concentrated the Confederate forces at Gettysburg to engage and defeat the Union Cavalry. General Henry Heth led the Confederate division, which began the...
by qdmhistory | Jun 30, 2022 | History
The landmark historical debate at the Oxford University Museum on June 30th,1860, continues to spark curiosity among historians and religious scholars alike. In a way, it clearly demonstrates the existing conflict between religious doctrines and historical hypotheses...
by qdmhistory | Jun 29, 2022 | History
On this day, June 29, 1964, the Senate passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The debate leading to the passing of this legislation is considered one of the most prominent proceedings in the history of the US Senate.The Civil Rights Act of 1964 abolished bias in public...
by qdmhistory | Jun 28, 2022 | History
On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed at the Palace of Versailles, marking the end of the five-year World War I. The upsurge of WWI started on July 28, 1914, following the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The aftermath of World War I...
by qdmhistory | Jun 27, 2022 | History
On June 24, 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo departed the port of Navidad, Mexico, with his flagship and two other vessels, the La Victoria and the San Miguel. Three months later, on September 18, the expedition reached San Miguel, named after one of his ships. San...
by qdmhistory | Jun 26, 2022 | History
The Battle of Fleurus occurred during the War of the First Coalition (1792- 97) and was an important victory for forces of the French Republic under General Jean-Baptiste Jourdan. The battle occurred near Fleurus, Belgium, on 26 June 1794 and involved about 28,000...
by qdmhistory | Jun 25, 2022 | History
From ghost town tours to "sin city" gambling, a visit to the American desert southwest keeps tourists busy as they escape the heat. One of the most popular tourist attractions is the Hoover Dam. The scale of the dam cannot be understood from just pictures...
by qdmhistory | Jun 24, 2022 | History
June 24, 1509, Henry VIII is crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey, London.When young Henry became King in 1509, he was only the second Tudor behind his father, Henry VII, to rule as an English monarch and not the first in line to become King. Although Henry...
by qdmhistory | Jun 23, 2022 | History
On June 23, 1972, Hurricane Agnes caused the most devastating floods on the East Coast. The storm destroyed property worth $3 billion, and 119 lives were lost.Around mid-June 1972, a depression developed in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, making its way to the western...
by qdmhistory | Jun 22, 2022 | History
Servicemen fighting in World War II would forsake college and vocational training, dedicating their time to fighting in the war. As a welcome compensation plan, the G.I Bill of Rights offered relief in form of weekly allowances for unemployed veterans and money for...
by qdmhistory | Jun 21, 2022 | History
On June 21, 1990, Iran was hit by one of the greatest earthquakes recorded in human history. The 7.7 Manjil-Rudbar earthquake hit the country's northwest region, causing widespread damage and a tremendous loss of life.The disaster struck at 12:30 AM when most...
by qdmhistory | Jun 20, 2022 | History
On this day in 1975, the movie Jaws made its debut. No one has ever made so many people afraid of going into the water the way Steven Spielberg did with this film, which portrays the narrative of a big white and extremely aggressive shark that terrorizes beachgoers at...
by qdmhistory | Jun 19, 2022 | History
On June 19, 1991, Pablo Escobar (the Colombian Drug Lord) surrendered to police in Colombia. Following the 1983 extradition treaty between Colombia and the United States, Pablo had long been on the US Drug Enforcement Administration's Most Wanted List.The DEA had...
by qdmhistory | Jun 18, 2022 | History
The United States was frustrated by Great Britain's unfair maritime practices and their opposition to America's intent to conquer Canada. The US perceived Canada as a weak nation impeding its desire to expand its territory. This objective was, nevertheless,...
by qdmhistory | Jun 17, 2022 | History
On June 17, 1837, he obtained his first rubber-processing patent. Most people who get a patent go on to make a fortune off industrial applications, but that was not the case for Charles Goodyear. It turns out 1837 was not an excellent financial year for Charles...
by qdmhistory | Jun 16, 2022 | History
LaMarcus Thompson's Cyclone was first opened to the public on June 26, 1927, 4 decades after its invention. The iconic Cyclone, situated on the corner of West 10th Street and Surf Avenue, is one of the country's oldest and still functional amusement rides....
by qdmhistory | Jun 15, 2022 | History
On June 15, 2002, an asteroid barely missed the Earth by 75,000 miles. The space rock, which was designated as 2002MN, was traveling at a speed of 6.2 miles per second. Astronomers were unable to immediately detect it because it was coming from the sun's...
by qdmhistory | Jun 14, 2022 | History
Bramble Cay Melomys were also called Bramble Cay mosaic-tailed rats. Their scientific name is Melomys rubicola. The rodent has recently come under the spotlight after going extinct. Scientists cite global warming as the primary cause of their dwindling numbers. If...
by qdmhistory | Jun 13, 2022 | History
Charlie Osborne was an American man who suffered from intractable hiccups for 68 years, from 1922 to 1990. While people thought his hiccups started due to alcohol consumption, this was not the case. A brain infection likely affected his body’s ability to prevent...
by qdmhistory | Jun 12, 2022 | History
Anne Frank received her very own diary on June 12, 1942, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. On her birthday, the red and white checked diary was presented to the thirteen-year-old. The diary held a special place in her heart because it detailed her life hiding from Nazis...
by qdmhistory | Jun 11, 2022 | History
On June 11, 1987, the United Kingdom held its general elections. Margaret Thatcher emerged victorious, becoming the first woman Prime Minister to retain that position for three terms in succession. The main issues that Thatcher's government promised to deal with...
by qdmhistory | Jun 10, 2022 | History
On June 10, 1963, the United States government finally took action to combat gender discrimination. On this day, US President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act, which required that all men and women be given the same wages for doing equal work. By signing this...
by qdmhistory | Jun 9, 2022 | History
On this day in 2019, an estimated 1.3 million people took to the streets of Hong Kong to protest the Extradition Bill. Hong Kong has a storied history. As a former British colony, control of the territory was handed off to the People's Republic of China in 1997,...
by qdmhistory | Jun 8, 2022 | History
On June 8, 452 A.D, Attila and the Huns crossed the Danube river to Italy, where they conquered multiple cities. This aggression caused mass destruction and fear all through the Western Roman Empire. Attila hoped to enforce his marriage to Honoria, the sister of...
by qdmhistory | Jun 7, 2022 | History
In June of 2017, there were some shocking unexplained deaths in Mozambique. Bald men who were seen as a means for obtaining gold had been killed, and warnings about the supposed killer (believes the gold is in their head) claimed that bald men would be pursued and...
by qdmhistory | Jun 6, 2022 | History
On this day in 1977, George Harrison and Pattie Boyd officially cut ties after 11 years together. George Harrison and Pattie Boyd first met in March of 1964, the start of a relationship that would last over a decade.Wedding Bells Are RingingAfter meeting Harrison on...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 5, 2022 | Uncategorized
On this day, Vladimir The Great started the Russian Orthodox Church, marking a change in Soviet attitude towards the institution. Christianity Throughout Russia Christianity in Russia began sometime in the late 860s according to the writings of Patriarch Photius,...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 4, 2022 | Uncategorized
Ferrand Martinez, Archdeacon of Écija in the late 1300s, was a notable anti-semite who incited a series of riots and pogroms against the Jewish community in Spain. Ferrand Martinez Speaks Out Against the Jews of Seville While there is little information regarding...
by qdmhistory | Jun 3, 2022 | History
On June 3, 1871, the American outlaw Jesse James robbed $15,000 from Obocock Bank. Jesse was somewhat of a career criminal, having once served as a Confederate guerilla in the US Civil war. During this time, he sharpened his banditry skills, often robbing banks. He...
by qdmhistory | Jun 2, 2022 | History
Following the French and Indian War, the British took over forts in the Great Lakes Region, including Fort Michilimackinac. The British started settling in Native American land and treated them as their inferiors. As a result, Chief Pontiac of Ottawa formed a united...
by qdmhistory | Jun 1, 2022 | History
On June 1, 1974, the lifesaving medical technique known as the Heimlich maneuver was first introduced via an article in Emergency Medicine Magazine. Henry Heimlich, thoracic surgeon and creator of the technique, started developing the lifesaving maneuver after...
by Matilda Cruz | May 31, 2022 | History
On May 31, 1279 BC, the greatest, most powerful, most famous pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, Ramesses II, took the throne. He was also an expert in self-promotion and ran a marketing campaign for his personal brand that was, in many ways, like modern internet influencers....
by Matilda Cruz | May 30, 2022 | History
On May 30, 1868, the United States celebrated the first Memorial Day, although it was called “Decoration Day” back then. While we’ve lost the exact origin of the holiday, it seems to come from one or more smaller, local celebrations across the...
by Matilda Cruz | May 29, 2022 | History
On May 29, 1886, an American chemist by the name of John Pemberton started advertising a brand new soft drink that he had invented, one that was eventually to become an American icon: Coca-Cola. He didn’t mean to create one of the most popular drinks in history....
by qdmhistory | May 28, 2022 | History
Life in London in the 18th century could be pretty uncomfortable. The summers could get brutally hot, there was no air conditioning, and the streets were filthy. It was just the sort of place that would make a lot of people want to go for a swim. The trouble was that...
by qdmhistory | May 27, 2022 | History
On May 27, 1930, the Chrysler Building opened to the public. It was the tallest building in the world at the time, a distinction that it held only for about a year when the taller Empire State Building was completed. In fact, the Chrysler Building was built as a part...
by qdmhistory | May 26, 2022 | History
May 26, 1927, marked the end of an era of automotive history. On that day, Henry Ford waited with his son Edsel for the last car of the day to roll off of the assembly line. After it was completed, they got in, drove it off the lot, and shut production down. The Model...
by qdmhistory | May 25, 2022 | History
Today, thanks to the internet, activism and fundraising are relatively easy. Anyone who wants to support a cause can quickly reach out to people all over the world. Things were rather different in the 80s, though. Back then, if you wanted to get a lot of people...
by qdmhistory | May 24, 2022 | History
On May 24, 1978, Marilyn Loden was assigned by the New York Telephone Company to replace a female vice president of the company at the 1978 Women’s Exposition in New York. She was assigned to give a speech at the “Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall” forum....
by qdmhistory | May 23, 2022 | History
Some people have trouble focusing on close-up things. Others don’t see distant things very well. Many people develop one of these problems as they age. That’s why glasses were one of the greatest inventions of the fifteenth century. Glasses could be made...
by qdmhistory | May 22, 2022 | History
On May 22, 1843, 1,000 people left Independence, kickstarting the Great Emigration. On this day, 1,000 men, women, and children left the town of Independence, Missouri, in a wagon train, hoping to find plentiful farmland that they could take for themselves and the...
by qdmhistory | May 21, 2022 | History
On May 21, 1999, the Emmy Awards’ most famous losing streak finally came to an end when Susan Lucci won an Emmy for Best Actress. It had certainly taken long enough. She received her first nomination for Best Actress Emmy in 1978, and she received another...
by qdmhistory | May 20, 2022 | History
The Homestead Act, signed by 16th US President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862, practically gave away government land to any member of the public that could meet certain criteria. By doing this, he hoped to encourage American expansion and the settlement of the West....
by qdmhistory | May 19, 2022 | History
On May 19, 1536, Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, was executed after what can only be described as one of the most corrupt trials in history. But to understand why, you have to go back to Henry VIII’s first marriage. Henry VIII was originally married...
by qdmhistory | May 18, 2022 | History
On May 18, 1896, thousands of people gathered at the Khodynka Field to celebrate the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II. As an estimated half a million people waited in the field by the dawn of May 18, 1896, a rumor suddenly spread that there was not enough food and gifts...
by qdmhistory | May 17, 2022 | History
Today, the Kentucky Derby is one of the biggest events in the horse racing world, one of the three Triple Crown races. It regularly sees crowds in excess of 50,000 people. It didn’t start off that way, of course. When the first Derby was held on May 17, 1875, it...
by qdmhistory | May 16, 2022 | History
On May 16, 2013, human embryonic stem cells were successfully cloned for the first time. The success came nearly seventeen years after the birth of Dolly the sheep, the first successfully cloned mammal. While Dolly was created from an adult somatic cell, specifically...
by qdmhistory | May 15, 2022 | History
On May 15, 1940, the future of fast food was born in San Bernardino, California, when the McDonald brothers opened their first restaurant. But the original McDonald’s bore very little resemblance to McDonald’s as it exists today. The original...
by qdmhistory | May 14, 2022 | History
On May 14, 1939, a 5-year-old Peruvian girl named Lina Medina gave birth in one of the biggest medical mysteries of its time, becoming the youngest mother in history in the process. Although some people have claimed it was a hoax, many doctors over the years have...
by qdmhistory | May 13, 2022 | History
On May 13, 1787, Arthur Phillip and the First Fleet set forth to colonize Australia with 11 ships full of criminals. With such a large contingent of people who didn’t want to be shipped off to a dangerous and unexplored land to work for the benefit of the people...
by qdmhistory | May 12, 2022 | History
On May 12, 1932, the saga of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping came to a tragic end when the baby’s body was found in Hopewell, New Jersey, less than a mile from the Lindbergh family’s home. The heartbroken Lindberghs moved away and donated the home to...
by qdmhistory | May 11, 2022 | History
On May 11, 1812, British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval entered the House of Commons to hear a debate. Immediately upon entering, a man who had been sitting by the fireplace in the lobby got up, drew a pistol, and shot him dead without saying a word. He then calmly...
by qdmhistory | May 10, 2022 | History
The Second Continental Congress issued America’s first-ever paper currency on May 10, 1775. This was more than just a footnote in the history of money. It was how the American Revolution got its financing. The First Continental Congress, a gathering of delegates...
by qdmhistory | May 9, 2022 | History
On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson announced the first-ever Mother’s Day. Although today’s Mother’s Day is a simple holiday with a long tradition behind it, the origins of the holiday are surprisingly complicated and full of conflict. The story...
by qdmhistory | May 8, 2022 | History
On May 8, 1980, the World Health Organization declared the end of the threat of smallpox. This deadly disease had finally been eradicated through the development of the smallpox vaccine. It sure took a long time, though. The beginning of the end of smallpox came in...
by qdmhistory | May 7, 2022 | History
World War I was unlike any war that had ever gone before. Not only did it involve a large portion of the nations of the world, but it also involved a lot of new military technology. Much of this new technology had never been used in battle before—specifically that of...
by qdmhistory | May 6, 2022 | History
The Hindenburg left Frankfurt, Germany on May 3, 1937, for a scheduled voyage across the Atlantic to Lakehurst’s Naval Air Base carrying 36 passengers and 61 crew members. On May 6, at 7.25 p.m local time, the Hindenburg was engulfed in flames and was utterly...
by qdmhistory | May 5, 2022 | History
On May 5, 1981, Bobby Sands died in Britain’s infamous Maze prison. What wasn’t unusual about his case is that he was a member of the Irish Republican Army, the IRA. Lots of members of the IRA were sent to prisons like the Maze. Nor was it unusual that he...
by qdmhistory | May 4, 2022 | History
On May 4, 1904, the United States began work on one of the largest, most expensive, most difficult engineering projects in history. In doing so, it literally remade the world. When Columbus became the first European to discover America, it was an accident. He was...
by qdmhistory | May 3, 2022 | History
In the days following World War One, things were looking dark for the British coal industry. Although there had been a tremendous need for coal during the war, demand fell sharply after it was over. Also, other nations had started to modernize their mining methods,...
by qdmhistory | May 2, 2022 | History
On May 2, 1949, Arthur Miller won the Pulitzer Prize for a work that many critics consider one of the greatest plays of the 20th century: Death of a Salesman. Not only that, but he also won a Tony Award and the Drama Critics Circle Award, making him the first person...
by qdmhistory | May 1, 2022 | History
On May 1, 1931, the Empire State Building officially opened for the first time. There was a big ceremony involved, with President Hoover dedicating the building by pressing a button specially installed in the White House to turn the skyscraper’s lights on for...
by qdmhistory | Apr 30, 2022 | History
On April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the United States’ first President. It wasn’t actually supposed to happen on that day, but life was frequently difficult and surprising back in those days. The inauguration was originally scheduled...
by qdmhistory | Apr 29, 2022 | History
On April 29, 1945, the U.S. Army ended the long nightmare at Dachau when it liberated 31,601 people from the concentration camp there. It was the first concentration camp established by the Nazis. The camp was built just five weeks after Adolf Hitler became the...
by qdmhistory | Apr 28, 2022 | History
On April 28, 1910, Claude Grahame-White made aviation history with the first nighttime airplane flight. Although it’s a routine occurrence today, in 1910, it had never been tried before because, with the airplanes of the time, it was rather dangerous. The first...
by qdmhistory | Apr 27, 2022 | History
On April 27, 1810, Ludwig Van Beethoven, a German composer, and pianist, composed the beautiful melody named “Fur Elise.” The piece is among the most famous compositions by Beethoven. Ludwig wrote the piece when he was almost deaf. He had suffered tinnitus...
by qdmhistory | Apr 26, 2022 | History
On April 26, 1859, legal history was made when Dan Sickles used the “temporary insanity” defense for the first time in history as a defense against murder. It was the details of the case, however, that were truly insane. To start with, the killer (Dan...
by qdmhistory | Apr 25, 2022 | History
The Hubble space telescope, forever changing astronomical science, was launched into orbit on April 25, 1990. In a way, the Hubble seemed like it was nothing special. It wasn’t based on some radical new telescope design; it was basically the same sort of...
by qdmhistory | Apr 24, 2022 | History
On April 24, 1479 BCE, Thutmose III ascended to the throne of Egypt, causing power to shift to… his stepmother Hatshepsut. It was the result of some political drama from his father’s reign, Thutmose II. You see, Thutmose II had left no proper heir to the throne...
by qdmhistory | Apr 23, 2022 | History
On April 23, 1968, Great Britain began its transition away from its traditional system of money into the simpler decimal system that it uses today. It did this by introducing the 5 new pence and 10 new pence coins to replace the shilling and the florin. The British...
by qdmhistory | Apr 22, 2022 | History
On April 22, 1954, McCarthy’s Senate hearings on the U.S. Army began. They were televised. They did not provide the proof that McCarthy promised of the Army being a hotbed of communist traitors. Instead, they demonstrated to the world that McCarthy was a...
by qdmhistory | Apr 21, 2022 | History
Queen Elizabeth II, born April 21, 1926, as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, is the oldest child of King George VI and the longest-reigning monarch in the history of Britain. Ironically, it was highly unlikely that she would ever ascend to the throne when she was born. Early...
by qdmhistory | Apr 20, 2022 | History
On April 20, 1999, tragedy struck the town of Littleton, Colorado, when two teenagers went on a shooting spree at Columbine High School. The Columbine High School Massacre was, at the time, the worst school shooting in U.S. history. The tragedy began at 11:10 in the...
by qdmhistory | Apr 19, 2022 | History
On April 19, 1909, Joan of Arc was beatified by Pope Pius X of the Roman Catholic Church. Derived from the Latin words beatus and facere, respectively meaning “blessed” and “to make,” beautification is the process by which the Catholic Church...
by qdmhistory | Apr 18, 2022 | History
On April 18, 1924, Simon & Schuster published the first crossword puzzle book. The crossword puzzle first appeared in an 1890 Italian publication as a four-by-four word game. The first modern puzzle, however, dates back to 1912. The New York World newspaper...
by qdmhistory | Apr 17, 2022 | History
On April 17, 1387, the characters in “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer began their pilgrimage to the titular city of Canterbury. Written in Middle English, “The Canterbury Tales” comprises twenty-four stories written largely in verse...
by qdmhistory | Apr 16, 2022 | History
Today, stamps are a fundamental part of mailing letters. It wasn’t always that way, though. Originally, letters were taken to the local postmaster, who counted the number of pages and the distance the letter had to travel to determine the postage, which was then...
by qdmhistory | Apr 15, 2022 | History
On April 15, 1874, the first Impressionist art exhibition opened in Paris, France. Pioneered by Claude Monet, Impressionism is an art movement that took the French art world—and later the artistic spheres of other European countries and the United States—by storm in...
by qdmhistory | Apr 14, 2022 | History
On the evening of April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic struck a North Atlantic iceberg as it made its way towards New York City, just four days after it left Southampton for its first voyage. The iceberg that sank the Titanic was estimated to be 1.5m tonnes in size, 400...
by qdmhistory | Apr 13, 2022 | History
On April 13, 1860, the first Pony Express mail was delivered in Sacramento, California, after ten days of travel. The Pony Express was a United States mail delivery service. Despite the general ubiquity of its name, it was actually extremely short-lived. In operation...
by qdmhistory | Apr 12, 2022 | History
On April 12, 1927, the Shanghai massacre occurred in the eastern city of Shanghai, signaling the start of the Chinese Civil War. Also known as the April 12 “Purge” or “Incident,” forces aligned with General Chiang Kai-shek and the Chinese...
by qdmhistory | Apr 11, 2022 | History
On April 11, 1814, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was forced to abdicate the throne of France unconditionally. Bonaparte is one of the most outstanding military leaders in history. Before his rise to power as the emperor of France in 1804, Napoleon fought in the French...
by qdmhistory | Apr 10, 2022 | History
On April 10, 1858, Big Ben’s big bell was finally finished. For the second time. It had seemed that Big Ben would never be finished for some time because the bell’s creation turned into something of a comedy of errors that delayed the project for years....
by qdmhistory | Apr 9, 2022 | History
On April 9, 1483, Edward V, the eldest surviving son of Edward IV, succeeded his father as the King of England upon the latter’s death. However, Edward V was deposed two months later, with his reign coming to an end even before he was crowned. In November 1470...
by qdmhistory | Apr 8, 2022 | History
The 8th of April 2004 was the beginning of a new era for the people of Sudan. As a result of the conflict that happened in the oil-rich Darfur region between the government and the two rebel groups (Justice and Equality Government (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation...
by qdmhistory | Apr 7, 2022 | History
Billie Holiday is regarded as one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time. She had a long and successful career as a jazz singer before succumbing to substance abuse. Her autobiography, also known as Lady Day, was adapted into the 1972 film Lady Sings the Blues....
by qdmhistory | Apr 6, 2022 | History
On the evening of April 6, 1994, the Rwanda president was killed. President Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian president Cyprien Ntaryamira were preparing to land in Kigali in a Dassault Falcon 50 jet when it was shot down with surface-to-air missiles. Both leaders...
by qdmhistory | Apr 5, 2022 | History
On April 5, 1722, Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen was the first European to discover one of the strangest and most enigmatic places on Earth: Easter Island. The island, also known as Rapa Nui, was covered in giant stone heads carved by some ancient people for an...
by qdmhistory | Apr 4, 2022 | History
At 6:05 P.M. On Thursday, April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was fatally shot in Memphis, Tennessee while standing on a balcony at the Lorraine Motel. Martin Luther King Jr. was a scholar and Baptist minister who led the Southern Christian Leadership...
by qdmhistory | Apr 3, 2022 | History
On April 3, 1978, Motorola engineer Martin Cooper made the first mobile phone call. Cooper stood near a 900 MHz base station on Sixth Avenue in New York City and called the Bell Labs headquarters in New Jersey. This call was made on DynaTAC (dynamic adaptive total...
by qdmhistory | Apr 2, 2022 | History
On April 2, 1902, Hollywood began with the opening of the Electric Theater in California. Founded by a man named Thomas Lincoln Tally, the theater forever changed the way people watched movies. Prior to that time, movies were mostly only shown as a part of vaudeville...
by qdmhistory | Apr 1, 2022 | History
On April 1, 1952, the Big Bang Theory was proposed by Ralph Alpher, George Gamow, and Hans Bethe in a paper published in the scientific journal Physical Review. The paper’s formal title was “The Origin of Chemical Elements,” but has since come to be...
by qdmhistory | Mar 31, 2022 | Popular
In the latter part of the nineteenth century, factions in Ireland (a part of Great Britain at the time) started agitating for independence from Britain, leading to half a century of strife between the island nations. On March 31, 1920, Britain passed the Irish Home...
by qdmhistory | Mar 30, 2022 | Popular
Odd as it may seem today, for most of the nineteenth century, Alaska was actually a part of Russia. But on March 30, 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the United States for just about 2 cents an acre. While the penny was worth a lot more back then, that was still an...
by qdmhistory | Mar 29, 2022 | Popular
On March 29, 1961, the tide of apartheid began to turn in South Africa when Nelson Mandela was acquitted in court of treason charges after a trial that had lasted more than four years. It was more than just a victory in one man’s court trial, though. It was also...
by qdmhistory | Mar 28, 2022 | Popular
It’s March 28, 1946. The atomic bomb had recently been used for the first time, and the Cold War was just starting. In response to the sudden nuclear danger, a report was compiled on dealing with the dangers of nuclear proliferation. It called for control of the...
by qdmhistory | Mar 27, 2022 | Popular
On March 27, 1914, the first successful modern blood transfusion was performed. There had been a long history of attempted blood transfusions before then, but they always had something wrong with the setup. Thus, they all ended badly. Belgian doctor Albert Hustin had...
by qdmhistory | Mar 26, 2022 | Popular
On March 26, 1871, following France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, Paris’s students and the working-class population joined together to form a revolutionary government historically known as the Paris Commune. Paris had been under siege by the...
by qdmhistory | Mar 25, 2022 | Popular
Billboard Magazine tracks the popularity of various songs and albums, both in the United States and all over the world. It has long been one of the music industry’s leading indicators of a work’s relative popularity. On March 25, 1939, Billboard Magazine...
by qdmhistory | Mar 24, 2022 | Popular
On March 4, 2020, Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, took drastic steps to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Although India had been slow to develop new cases, once they reached 500 in number, Modi decided that it was time to take immediate and...
by qdmhistory | Mar 23, 2022 | Popular
Early in 1775, the budding American Revolution was looking like it would wither and die before it even got started. Revolting against the British government was a rather big step, and a lot of people were not comfortable with taking it. Many didn’t dislike everything...
by qdmhistory | Mar 22, 2022 | Popular
On March 22, 1954, Northland Center, the first regional shopping center, opened in Michigan. Architect Victor Gruen designed this mall, and its construction began in 1952. The 1.4 million square foot property was constructed at about $25 million and served as a...
by qdmhistory | Mar 21, 2022 | Popular
On March 21, 1349, a massacre against the Jewish community was committed in Erfurt, Germany. The Black Death, also known as the Bubonic Plague, had spread across Europe three years earlier. To date, no other pandemic has proven more devastating than the Bubonic. Along...
by qdmhistory | Mar 20, 2022 | Popular
On March 20, 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s influential anti-slavery novel was published. The book was comprised of two volumes and sought to depict the cruel reality of slavery through the titular character Uncle Tom, an enslaved African-American man. At the...
by qdmhistory | Mar 19, 2022 | History
On March 19, 1863, the Confederate States Navy steamship SS Georgiana sank. The steamer was created in 1862 for use in the American Civil War. However, it was never actually used in battle. The SS Georgiana’s maiden voyage was to Charleston, South Carolina,...
by qdmhistory | Mar 18, 2022 | Popular
On March 18, 1890, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck resigned. Well, technically, at least. In reality, he was forced out of office by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Their falling out marked the end of one of the most powerful and influential political careers of 19th century...
by qdmhistory | Mar 17, 2022 | Popular
Life on the west coast of Britain in the 5th century was difficult and dangerous. One of the things that made it particularly difficult and dangerous was the constant raiding from Ireland. On these raids, the Irish stole animals and kidnapped men, women, and children...
by qdmhistory | Mar 16, 2022 | Popular
On March 16, 1792, King Gustav III of Sweden was shot while enjoying a night out at the opera house. He died from his injuries two weeks later. His assassination ended the long-running feud between himself and Sweden’s aristocracy. In fact, it was the...
by qdmhistory | Mar 15, 2022 | Popular
In the early days of 1783, the new nation of America was facing a second revolution, this one against the new American government. On March 15, 1783, George Washington put an end to the budding rebellion by giving a speech. The problem began with the Continental...
by qdmhistory | Mar 14, 2022 | Popular
On March 14, 1794, Eli Whitney received a patent for his cotton gin, proving that he was a brilliant inventor and engineer. It also marked the date that he set out to prove that his brilliance did not extend to the world of business. As a child, Whitney built his own...
by qdmhistory | Mar 13, 2022 | Popular
On March 13, 2003, ancient human footprints preserved in volcanic ash were discovered by scientists in southern Italy. At 350,000 years old, the footprints are the oldest ever discovered of the Homo genus, or the modern group humans (homo sapiens) belong to. These...
by qdmhistory | Mar 12, 2022 | Popular
On March 12, 1930, Indian independence activist Mahatma Gandhi began a 241-mile salt march to the sea with 78 followers to take a political stand by getting salt from the seawater there. It was the best way that Gandhi could see to break the hold that Britain had over...
by qdmhistory | Mar 11, 2022 | Popular
On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck 45 miles east of the Oshika Peninsula of Japan, kickstarting a chain of disasters. The earthquake itself was the first, of course. It was the fourth most powerful earthquake in modern history. It was so powerful...
by qdmhistory | Mar 10, 2022 | Popular
In 2013, Robin Thicke and Pharell Williams released their pop hit “Blurred Lines,” which was meant to evoke the sounds of a long-vanished era in music. Unfortunately, they ended up evoking it a little too well. More specifically, they found themselves on...
by qdmhistory | Mar 9, 2022 | Popular
On March 9, 1961, Chernushka the Soviet Space Dog boldly ventured into the final frontier with her crew of mice, guinea pigs, and a dummy cosmonaut named Ivan Ivanovich. No, that’s not the setup to some kids’ cartoon—it’s the story of one of the most...
by qdmhistory | Mar 8, 2022 | Popular
On March 8, 2014, Malaysia flight MH370 was scheduled to depart from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at 12:45 am and arrive in Beijing, China, at 6.30 am. The 11-year-old Boeing 777 passenger jet, which was operated by a crew of 12 Malaysian citizens, had no previous...
by qdmhistory | Mar 7, 2022 | Popular
On March 7, 1530, a seemingly routine dissolution of a marriage turned into the messiest divorce in history. Henry VIII, the king of England, had been married to Catherine of Aragon for many years without any male children. And, by English custom, he needed a male...
by qdmhistory | Mar 6, 2022 | Popular
The Battle of the Alamo took place between Texans and Mexicans from February 23 to March 6, 1836, during the Texas Revolution. Led by President General Santa Anna, a force of about 1800 Mexican troops marched across the Rio Grande, targeting the Alamo garrison. The...
by qdmhistory | Mar 5, 2022 | Popular
At the beginning of 1946, things seemed to be looking up over much of the world. The Second World War had finally been won, and the world seemed briefly united in celebration and relief. Then, on March 5, 1946, along came Winston Churchill to spoil the mood with his...
by qdmhistory | Mar 4, 2022 | Popular
In the early days of 1933, things were looking pretty bad in America. The Great Depression had been going on for years. Unemployment was rampant, inflation was through the roof, and the government seemed to have no idea how to tackle the crisis. There seemed to be no...
by qdmhistory | Mar 3, 2022 | Popular
On March 3, 1887, at age 20, Anne arrived at Keller’s home in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Helen Keller, who was left deaf and blind after a severe illness at 19 months, would later call this day her “soul’s birthday” as Sullivan’s presence...
by qdmhistory | Mar 2, 2022 | Popular
On March 2, 1965, The Sound of Music, an American musical drama, was released. Although it initially received a critical response, it later achieved significant success, taking the world by storm. In just four weeks, the musical became the number one box office movie...
by qdmhistory | Mar 1, 2022 | Popular
On March 1, 1872, not only did Yellowstone become the first National Park, but the whole concept of national parks was invented. Before that time, natural land was seen as nothing more than a resource to be exploited. But the natural splendor of the Yellowstone region...
by qdmhistory | Feb 28, 2022 | Popular
On February 28, 1854, the Republican Party was officially formed. The occasion took place in Ripon, Wisconsin, where members of the Whig Party gathered for the purpose of establishing a new political affiliation. The Whig Party was formed in 1833; at the time, it was...
by qdmhistory | Feb 27, 2022 | Popular
Women’s magazines can be found in stores everywhere, as well as online. They’re incredibly popular. Almost every woman’s magazine today was started within the last 100 years, which could lead some people to believe that they’re a relatively...
by qdmhistory | Feb 26, 2022 | Popular
Galileo Galilei was a physicist and astronomer who lived in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries and is today considered by many to be the father of modern science. He was one of the earliest and most influential scientists to argue in favor of...
by qdmhistory | Feb 25, 2022 | Popular
On February 25, 1901, U.S. Steel was formally incorporated at the behest of J. P. Morgan, a Wall Street corporate banker and financier during the Gilded Age of the United States. The Gilded Age, which lasted the last thirty or so years of the 19th century, was a...
by qdmhistory | Feb 24, 2022 | Popular
February 24, 1868. The Civil War had been over for a few years, and the Reconstruction wasn’t going well. Lincoln had been assassinated and replaced with Andrew Johnson, a Southern Democrat with a strong sympathy for the Confederate rebels. The Northern...
by qdmhistory | Feb 23, 2022 | Popular
On February 23, 1945, one of the most iconic battles in the history of the U.S. Marines reached a turning point in a moment that has since become one of the most recognized moments of World War II. When the battle began just four days earlier, everything seemed like...
by qdmhistory | Feb 22, 2022 | Popular
On February 22, 1825, Russia and Britain signed a treaty that formally established the Alaska-Canada boundary. The treaty, known as the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1825 or the Treaty of Saint Petersburg, defined the boundaries of the colonial lands under the control...
by qdmhistory | Feb 21, 2022 | Popular
February 21, 1972, was the start of the week that changed the world, as President Richard Nixon put it. He called it that because it was the start of his eight-day visit to communist China, something that no U.S. president had done since the founding of the...
by qdmhistory | Feb 20, 2022 | Popular
On February 20, 1792, George Washington signed the Postal Service Act, creating the Post Office that still delivers the mail today. Prior to that, there had been a sort of ad hoc colonial postal service with little organization. It didn’t really work that well....
by qdmhistory | Feb 19, 2022 | Popular
Aaron Burr, Vice President under Thomas Jefferson, found himself facing the charge of treason on February 19, 1807. These charges stemmed from an alleged conspiracy that claimed Burr had been attempting to amass a group of powerful and influential businessmen,...
by qdmhistory | Feb 18, 2022 | Popular
Considered one of the most important theological works of the 17th century, The Pilgrim’s Progress was first printed on February 18th, 1678. The 432-page book was written by John Bunyan, a puritan preacher who first began work on the novel during his stay in a...
by qdmhistory | Feb 17, 2022 | Popular
Michael Jordan is a retired NBA basketball player who earned the MVP award five times while leading the Chicago Bulls to six championships. MJ is a former professional basketball player, Olympian, businessman, and actor. From the mid-1980s until the late 1990s, he was...
by qdmhistory | Feb 16, 2022 | Popular
Anthony Ashley Cooper, the first Earl of Shaftesbury, was arrested and confined to the Tower of London on Feb. 16, 1677. Cooper was the son of a large landowner and was elected to the House of Commons in 1640. During the Civil War in England, Cooper originally...
by qdmhistory | Feb 15, 2022 | Popular
On February 15, 399 BC, the great philosopher Socrates found himself at the mercy of the Athenian court. The charges levied against him were impiety and corruption of the youth. These charges stemmed mainly from his teachings, of which a significant portion delved...
by qdmhistory | Feb 14, 2022 | Popular
On February 14, 1929, gang violence had reached an all-time high. When seven men who belonged to an enemy of Al Capone’s were lined up against an alley wall and shot to death, things had changed. Even though the officials tried, Al Capone was never linked back...
by qdmhistory | Feb 13, 2022 | Popular
Budapest surrendered to the USSR on Feb. 13, 1945, after a siege that lasted 50 days. When the Soviet and Romanian forces encircled the city on Dec. 26, 1944, the Hungarian and German forces rose to defend it. Known as the “Pearl of the Danube,” Budapest,...
by qdmhistory | Feb 12, 2022 | Popular
Famous fashion designer Christian Dior presented his debut collection in Paris on Feb. 12, 1947. This collection was immediately dubbed as the “New Look” because it rejected modern ideas about fashion that had been adopted in the 1920s and 30s. It was also...
by qdmhistory | Feb 11, 2022 | Popular
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was Rome’s 5th emperor. Today, we remember he killed his step brother Tiberius Claudius Caesar Brittanicus. Britannicus was Claudius’ natural-born son, whereas Nero was adopted through his mother, Agrippina the...
by qdmhistory | Feb 10, 2022 | Popular
Feb. 10, 1355, was the feast day of Saint Scholastica in Oxford, England. Students from the University of Oxford were drinking in the Swindlestock Tavern, but two were unhappy with the quality of the wine. Heated words were exchanged with the tavern owner, and a fight...
by qdmhistory | Feb 9, 2022 | Popular
Feb. 9, 1886, saw President Grover Cleveland’s declaration of martial law in Seattle to curb the forcible demands for Chinese expulsion by white, working-class citizens. This antagonistic day was fueled by two catalysts: racial injustice and economic unrest....
by qdmhistory | Feb 8, 2022 | Popular
They say it’s dangerous to walk with the devil, but on February 8, 1855, the devil walked on earth…allegedly. The curious event took place in Devon, England, where strange hoof-like footprints were discovered in the snow. Religious figures at the time stated...
by qdmhistory | Feb 7, 2022 | Popular
On Feb. 7, 1992, twelve member states signed the Treaty on European Union in the city of Maastricht in the Netherlands. More commonly known as the Maastricht Treaty, it created the European Union (EU) based on three pillars. They were the European Communities...
by qdmhistory | Feb 6, 2022 | Popular
On February 6, 1836, Charles Darwin arrived at the port of Hobart in Van Diemen’s Land, now known as Tasmania. Leaving Sydney behind six days before, the HMS Beagle sailed up the Derwent River on a cold and squally day. With the mouth of the river bearing the...
by qdmhistory | Feb 5, 2022 | Popular
On Feb. 5, 1924, the first Winter Olympic Games came to a close at Chamonix, France. The events at the foot of Mont Blanc began on January 25 and were held the same year as the Summer Olympics. At the time, it was known as the “International Winter Sports...
by qdmhistory | Feb 4, 2022 | Popular
On February 04, 2004, a sophomore psychology major named Mark Zuckerberg launched “The Facebook” from his college dormitory. This launch wasn’t his first foray into the development of a social networking website. Zuckerberg, an avid computer...
by qdmhistory | Feb 3, 2022 | Popular
Leonardo da Vinci was said to be one of the greatest engineers of his time. During his engineering years, one of his most promising inventions was the revolutionary flying machine. The flying machine was unlike anything anyone had ever seen before. It had a 33-foot...
by qdmhistory | Feb 2, 2022 | Popular
On Feb 2, 1947, six months before India attained Independence, Mahatma Gandhi launched the peace campaign through a nonviolent movement. The move was championed by the mass murder of Muslims and Hindus during the Direct Action Day violence. Mahatma Gandhi had...
by qdmhistory | Feb 1, 2022 | Popular
She had agonized over signing the death warrant for almost two decades. However, on Feb 1, 1587, Queen Elizabeth I ordered the execution of her cousin Mary, the rightful ruler of Scotland and arguably the English Crown. Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded on Feb 8,...
by qdmhistory | Jan 31, 2022 | Popular
On January 13, 1865, the United States Congress passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which formally abolished slavery. It also ends involuntary servitude, except in the form of criminal punishment. Twenty-seven states ratified the amendment upon its...
by qdmhistory | Jan 30, 2022 | Popular
Oliver Cromwell has the rare distinction of being both buried with honors after dying of natural causes then dug up to be executed for treason after death and burial. How can someone already dead be executed? Simple! Cromwell was arguably English History’s...
by qdmhistory | Jan 29, 2022 | Popular
Today we celebrate one of the most innovative and important discoveries in medical history—the day that radiation was first used to treat breast cancer. Here is a bit about Emile Grubbe and his groundbreaking discovery. Background His parents immigrated to the...
by qdmhistory | Jan 28, 2022 | Popular
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a classic book that high school teachers everywhere eagerly want their students to read and rave about, but the story of its publication makes for an interesting story on its own. Shortly prior to the time when Pride and Prejudice...
by qdmhistory | Jan 27, 2022 | Popular
In a glass sarcophagus inside a Moscow tourist attraction rests the embalmed body of Vladimir Lenin. Situated in Moscow’s Red Square, Lenin’s mausoleum represents a time in Russian history that many contemporary Russians now celebrate. To others, the...
by qdmhistory | Jan 26, 2022 | Popular
At a White House press conference on January 26, 1998, then-President Bill Clinton uttered what was to become one of his most infamous statements: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.” The Clinton-Lewinsky scandal first hit the...
by qdmhistory | Jan 25, 2022 | Popular
Years ago, countries were driven by national and personal prestige in attaining Earth’s poles, territorial acquisition, and scientific discovery. No confirmed sightings of the 7th continent had been made even though the ancient Greeks had proposed the existence...
by qdmhistory | Jan 24, 2022 | Popular
When Robert Baden-Powell wrote up the book Scouting For Boys, we doubt he intended to get as broad an audience as he did. Lieutenant General Robert Baden-Powell published his book on Jan 24, 1908. The book is a manuscript for outdoor skills and self-improvement. The...
by qdmhistory | Jan 23, 2022 | Popular
The Shaanxi Earthquake was one of the largest and deadliest natural disasters, claiming 830,000 lives. Jan 23, 1556, no doubt started as a typical day for the citizens of Shaanxi. However, the day quickly took a turn when an earthquake of significant magnitude shook...
by qdmhistory | Jan 22, 2022 | Popular
On the verge of losing a war against Japan in the Far East, czarist Russia was rocked by internal dissatisfaction that erupted in what would later be referred to as the Bloody Sunday Massacre in St. Petersburg. Russia had become more corrupt and tyrannical than ever...
by qdmhistory | Jan 21, 2022 | Popular
Most would agree that the Vietnam War, also commonly referred to as the Second Indochina War, which lasted from late 1955 to early 1975, marks a poignant time in America’s history. However, in the 20-odd years that the war raged on, some dates stand out...
by qdmhistory | Jan 20, 2022 | Popular
Born in 1882, New York, Franklin D. Roosevelt, also referred to as FDR, demonstrated indomitable competence in public service. He became the first and only president of the United States to be inaugurated for a fourth term. Roosevelt overcame personal and political...
by qdmhistory | Jan 19, 2022 | Popular
On this day in history, NASA’s Curiosity Rover discovered calcium deposits on Mars. This discovery was highly important as it provided evidence of water on Mars, suggesting the planet was habitable at some point in the past. In a Curiosity Rover report, Justin...
by qdmhistory | Jan 18, 2022 | Popular
On January 18th, 1644, Pilgrims in Boston reported what later became known as America’s first UFO sighting. The governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Winthrop, recorded in his diary: “About midnight, three men, coming in a boat to Boston, saw two...
by qdmhistory | Jan 17, 2022 | Popular
On January 17th, 2007, scientists changed the Doomsday Clock from seven minutes to midnight up to five minutes to midnight. This change indicated their belief that the world had edged closer to nuclear armageddon. Although this was in direct response to North...
by qdmhistory | Jan 16, 2022 | Popular
On January 16, 1970, four months after leading a revolt that ousted King Idris 1’s governance, Gaddafi became the chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council, the then ruling governing body. Muammar Gaddafi, the energetic and brilliant 27-year old colonel, had...
by qdmhistory | Jan 15, 2022 | Popular
The Purity Distilling Company of Boston, Massachusetts, was the site of an unusual disaster that claimed the lives of 21 people, injuring another 150. A tank measuring 50 feet high with a 90-foot diameter contained molasses that was being stored at the facility before...
by qdmhistory | Jan 14, 2022 | Popular
History is a powerful thing. When thinking about pregnancy and how birthing got started, you start to wonder and obsess about it. If you or someone you know is heading to the hospital for a C-section, you may ask yourself these questions. How did this get started? Who...
by qdmhistory | Jan 13, 2022 | Popular
Afghanistan has a reputation for being the Graveyard of Empires. This is much exaggerated because the region has been an integral part of a number of very successful empires. However, the western perspective is dominated by three things – the War in Afghanistan...
by qdmhistory | Jan 12, 2022 | Popular
On January 12, 1967, Dr. James Bedford, an ordinary psychology professor, died an all-too-common death from cancer. Then his story got really weird. That’s because he had decided to take the Life Extension Society’s offer of free cryonic preservation for...
by qdmhistory | Jan 11, 2022 | Popular
On January 11 in 1838, the modern world was invented. Or, at least, the invention that would give rise to the modern world was demonstrated for the first time. This invention, the telegraph, made the world a smaller, more connected place. For the first time in human...
by qdmhistory | Jan 10, 2022 | Popular
Napoleon Bonaparte was married twice. His first wife was Josephine de Beauharnais, while his second wife was Marie-Louise of Austria. However, Napoleon didn’t get remarried because Josephine had died. Instead, the two had a divorce on January 10 of 1810, which...
by qdmhistory | Jan 9, 2022 | Popular
Many people know Ted Williams, the baseball legend and one of the greatest hitters of all time. Not as many people know Ted Williams, the military hero. Yet, during World War II, he proved that baseball wasn’t his only strong suit. That’s why, on January...
by qdmhistory | Jan 8, 2022 | Popular
It is very common for governments to borrow money. After all, governments can run into a wide range of emergencies that become more manageable through more spending. As such, the concept of a national debt isn’t exactly a modern invention. In the case of the...
by qdmhistory | Jan 7, 2022 | Popular
On January 7th, 1714, a patent was filed by Henry Mill, an English inventor who worked as a waterworks engineer for a device “for impressing or transcribing of letters singly or progressively one after another, so neat and exact as not to be distinguished from...
by qdmhistory | Jan 6, 2022 | Popular
The first iteration of what would later become the electric telegraph was created by Samuel Morse in 1838. Shortly after the prototype’s invention, which used only a single wire, Samuel Morse demonstrated the new technology Speedwell Ironworks in Morristown, New...
by qdmhistory | Jan 5, 2022 | Popular
Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Chestnut Barrow, the infamous couple later known simply as Bonnie and Clyde, met for the first time on January 5, 1930. At the time, Bonnie was nineteen years old, and Clyde was twenty. The chance encounter took place, by most...
by qdmhistory | Jan 4, 2022 | Popular
On January 4, 1780, a severe snowstorm bore down on George Washington and his troops at Morristown, New Jersey. Then six years into the Revolutionary War, Morristown was chosen to be the army’s encampment for the winter. The conditions soldiers faced throughout...
by qdmhistory | Jan 3, 2022 | Popular
Greta Thunberg (born January 3, 2003, in Stockholm, Sweden) is a Swedish environmental activist who has fought to combat global warming. She started the Fridays for Future campaign in 2018. (also called School Strike for Climate). Greta was diagnosed with Asperger...
by qdmhistory | Jan 2, 2022 | Popular
On January 2nd, 1947, Mahatma Gandhi began his march for peace in East Bengal, one of his last significant protests before his assassination the following year. Religious intolerance was on the rise across the subcontinent, and Gandhi, dismayed by this, wanted to end...
by qdmhistory | Jan 1, 2022 | Popular
On January 1, 1892, the first day of the new year, Ellis Island opened as a United States immigration inspection station. While preparing to open, three ships had already arrived and were eagerly waiting to dock. Records show an impressive 700 newcomers were processed...
by qdmhistory | Dec 31, 2021 | Popular
On this day in history, a small group of conspirators hatched a plan to assassinate the Roman Emperor Commodus. His unrelenting On Dec 31st AD 192, the services of the young wrestler were procured by the conspirators to end the emperor’s life. Commodus was...
by qdmhistory | Dec 30, 2021 | Popular
Grigori Rasputin, also known as the Mad Monk, wasn’t actually a monk but a self-proclaimed holy man who was thought to have mystical healing powers. He became friends with Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra in 1905 and supposedly healed their hemophiliac...
by qdmhistory | Dec 29, 2021 | Popular
On December 29, 1997, Hong Kong began a massive operation, slaughtering 1.2 million chickens to curb the spread of the Bird Flu. The exercise was aimed at eradicating a strange ailment that had killed four people. From commercial flocks to family flocks, farmers...
by qdmhistory | Dec 28, 2021 | Popular
On December 28, 1612, Galileo Galilei, while sketching the moons of Jupiter, drew in his notebook what he believed to be a “fixed star” that he had observed through his primitive telescope near Jupiter. However, due to its distance from the sun and slow...
by qdmhistory | Dec 27, 2021 | Popular
December 27 has some rather significant events attached to it. It was on this day in 1978 that Spain announced to the world it was an official democracy. Charles Darwin set sail on December 27, 1836. Almost a century later, as the U.S. struggled with the results of...
by qdmhistory | Dec 26, 2021 | Popular
A tsunami from the Indian Ocean in 2004 washed up the shores of various nations in South and Southeast Asia. The tsunami and its aftermath caused widespread devastation and loss of life along the Indian Ocean coast. On this day, December 26, 2004, at around 7:59 AM...
by qdmhistory | Dec 25, 2021 | Popular
The Roman church began celebrating Christmas on the 25th of December, 336 AD. The emperor Constantine was in power at that time. Before, Constantine had made Christianity the official and practical religion of his entire empire. According to speculations, Constantine...
by qdmhistory | Dec 24, 2021 | Popular
On this day in 1936, December 24th, the first radioactive isotope was used to treat disease in humans, heralding the birth of much-needed nuclear medicine. Ernest Lawrence was an American physician and physicist who was later awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics for...
by qdmhistory | Dec 23, 2021 | Popular
Van Gogh gave an ear to his lover. It’s a strange tale, but true according to historical accounts… It happened on December 23, 1888, two days before the Christmas holiday. Vincent van Gogh was an exceptionally gifted artist but also odd and often described...
by qdmhistory | Dec 22, 2021 | Popular
On this day, December 22, 1882, an enterprising New Yorker discovered a brilliant use for electric lights and became the first to use them as Christmas tree decorations. Edward H. Johnson, who worked for Thomas Edison’s Illumination Company and subsequently...
by qdmhistory | Dec 21, 2021 | Popular
On December 21st, 1898, the husband and wife duo Marie and Pierre Curie discovered Radium. Their radioactive discovery came after years of tinkering with different crystals and Magnesium. Their discovery would shape the future as we know it today. Pierre met his wife...
by qdmhistory | Dec 20, 2021 | Popular
Two German brothers famously known for their versions of fairy tales, which often featured cruel and dark storylines, released the less known Kinder-und Hausmarche, the German version of Children’s and Household Tales. The two brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm,...
by qdmhistory | Dec 19, 2021 | Popular
Benjamin Franklin used the pen name Richard Saunders to publish Poor Richard’s Almanac. The first edition book was published on December 19th, 1732. An almanac is an annual publication that details important dates and statistics, including astronomical numbers...
by qdmhistory | Dec 18, 2021 | Popular
On December 18, 1957, the United States produced its first nuclear-powered electrical current. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Shipping Port Atomic Power Station was the first power station to use nuclear power for dedicated peacetime use. The SAP...
by qdmhistory | Dec 17, 2021 | Popular
While the 20th century has long been over, what happened over those hundred years won’t soon be forgotten. Mechanical technology was awe-inspiring for many, none more so than the Wright Brothers. The Brothers made a place most grade-school kids know about...
by qdmhistory | Dec 16, 2021 | Popular
The Haiyuan earthquake affected Haiyuan County in the Republic of China’s Ningxia Province on December 16, 1920. At the time of the earthquake, Gansu Province was a part of Ningxia, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the 1920 Gansu earthquake. The 7.8...
by qdmhistory | Dec 15, 2021 | Popular
On December 15, 1612, the German astronomer, Simon Marius, became the first person to observe the Andromeda Galaxy through a telescope. He was able to measure the galaxy’s diameter and said it looked like a candle shining through a horn. Marius, however, was not...
by qdmhistory | Dec 14, 2021 | Popular
On December 14, 1911, Roald Amundsen, one of the greatest figures in polar exploration, became the first person to reach the South Pole. Beating out his British rival Robert Falcon Scott, Amundsen sailed to Antarctica’s Bay of Whales before beginning the...
by qdmhistory | Dec 13, 2021 | Popular
Saddam Hussein was the one-time President of Iraq. On the international stage, he tends to be remembered for a number of incidents. The first is his invasion of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1980 with various forms of support from the United States, the Soviet...
by qdmhistory | Dec 12, 2021 | Popular
Once upon a time, the Romans used a 355-day calendar. As a result, they had to insert an intercalary month between February and March from time to time. The problem was that this insertion was a political process. After all, a longer year meant a longer term for the...
by qdmhistory | Dec 11, 2021 | Popular
King Louis XVI of France might have had good intentions. Unfortunately, he proved incapable of ruling his deeply-indebted country, as shown by his failures in making his much-needed reforms stick. Eventually, Louis XVI was forced to call the Estates-General of 1789,...
by qdmhistory | Dec 10, 2021 | Popular
Units of measurement have been used since time immemorial. However, there were long-standing issues. For starters, it was common for different regions to use different units of measurement, which complicated trade as well as other interactions between them. Even with...
by qdmhistory | Dec 9, 2021 | Popular
On December 9, 1793, American Minerva, believed to be America’s first daily newspaper, was printed by George Bunce & Co. at 37 Wall Street in New York City. This was near the Tontine Coffee House. On this first day of publication, almost the entire front...
by qdmhistory | Dec 8, 2021 | Trending
In 1931, Japan invaded China after local Japanese officers decided to fake a Chinese attack, thus resulting in the creation of the puppet state of Manchukuo. In 1937, Japan invaded even further into China, thus resulting in the Second Sino-Japanese War. The western...
by qdmhistory | Dec 7, 2021 | Popular
Leo Baekeland immigrated to the United States from Europe and began his career as a photographer in New York City. He was also a talented scientist and inventor who invented the first commercially successful photographic paper, Velox, using his invention of...
by qdmhistory | Dec 6, 2021 | Popular
The most substantial scientific evidence of water flowing on the surface of Mars was obtained from pictures of Martian gullies – NASA’s Mars global surveyor. NASA has been deriving images from the planet since 1999. After almost ten years of discovering Mars...
by qdmhistory | Dec 5, 2021 | Popular
On December 5, crowds cheered as the 21st Amendment was ratified. This Amendment repealed the previous prohibition of alcohol in the 18th Amendment. The prohibition barred the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors in order to ensure that there was enough food...
by qdmhistory | Dec 4, 2021 | Popular
A few key figures largely controlled politics in the 19th century. Among them, William Magear Tweed was a well-known politician in his time. He was often called Boss or Boss Tweed, a name derived from his other moniker, William Marcy Tweed. Mr. Boss was the leader of...
by qdmhistory | Dec 3, 2021 | Popular
Aristotle and other ancient Greek scholars suggested that the Earth was round based on different observations. For example, departing ships appear smaller and seem to sink into the horizon, as would be the case when sailing across a round surface like a ball. However,...
by qdmhistory | Dec 2, 2021 | Popular
Radical Abolitionist John Brown hoped to incite a successful slave rebellion to create a free state for African Americans. On October 16, 1859, John Brown headed a minor attack on the U.S. military arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. John Brown witnessed the beating...
by qdmhistory | Dec 1, 2021 | Popular
In contemporary American civil rights history, December 1, 1955, is among the most iconic moments. On this date, a 42-year-old sewist boarded an integrated metro bus in the Alabama state to go back to the house after an exhausting day at the office; she chose an aisle...
by qdmhistory | Nov 30, 2021 | Popular
Oscar Wilde was an Irish intellectual of the 19th century. He died on November 30, 1900, and was never forgotten. He was notable for his works, which remain famous to this day. However, Wilde also tends to be remembered for his criminal conviction for homosexual...
by qdmhistory | Nov 29, 2021 | Popular
Today in history, the Austrian-Irish physicist Erwin Rudolf Schrödinger published his famous thought experiment “Schrödinger’s Cat.” This paradox illustrated the problem of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. Schrödinger’s Cat...
by qdmhistory | Nov 28, 2021 | Popular
On this day in history, the pirate Blackbeard attacked a French merchant slaving ship La Concorde and renamed it the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Blackbeard is the most notorious pirate in history. Throughout the early eighteenth century, he terrorized North American...
by qdmhistory | Nov 27, 2021 | Popular
Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist, inventor, philanthropist, and businessman. He was extremely successful as an inventor, holding 355 patents throughout his lifetime. One of his most famous inventions was dynamite, which was used worldwide for mining and...
by qdmhistory | Nov 26, 2021 | Popular
Labeled the crime of the century, the Brink’s-Mat robbery occurred on November 26, 1983. On that fateful day, six robbers broke into the Brinks-Mat warehouse at the Heathrow International Trading Estate in West London. The six are said to have gained entry to...
by qdmhistory | Nov 25, 2021 | Popular
On this day, November 25, 1867, the House Committee of the Judiciary considered articles of impeachment against President Andrew Johnson. This event was part of a power struggle in the 40th Congress (1867 to 1869) between radical Republicans in the House and President...
by qdmhistory | Nov 24, 2021 | Popular
On November 24, 1974, paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson and his team found the most complete early human skeleton (Lucy, Australopithecus afarensis) ever discovered in history in the Middles Awash of the Afar Depression near Hadar, Ethiopia. This extraordinary...
by qdmhistory | Nov 23, 2021 | Popular
On Saturday 23rd November 2019, at 17:35 local time, Iman, Malaysia’s last female Sumatran rhino, was declared dead. She was the last known specimen of her kind in the Asian country and was 25 years old. Just six months before this tragic incident, the last male...
by qdmhistory | Nov 22, 2021 | Trending
Today, on November 22, 1963, 46-year-old President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas. Kennedy had been planning to tour Texas on November 22 and 23 to gain support for his New Frontier political agenda. He began in Fort Worth, where he...
by qdmhistory | Nov 21, 2021 | Popular
On November 21, 1934, The New York Yankees absorbed a 19-year old Joe DiMaggio from San Francisco for five other players and $50,000. DiMaggio’s Early Start November 21, 1934, The New York Yankees absorbed a 19-year old Joe DiMaggio from San Francisco for five other...
by qdmhistory | Nov 20, 2021 | Popular
On November 20, 1695, the townspeople of Quilombo dos Palmares observed as Portuguese soldiers attached the severed head of Zumbi, the last Warrior king of Palmares, onto a stake right in the middle of the central plaza. Palmares, then a city of runaway slaves, was...
by qdmhistory | Nov 19, 2021 | Popular
November 19, 1863, President Lincoln delivered one of the most iconic speeches during the formal dedication of Gettysburg national cemetery for the fallen soldiers who died in battle. In attendance is Secretary Seward, Hon. Edward Everett, various state governors, and...
by qdmhistory | Nov 18, 2021 | History
You may have heard about the Jonestown murder-suicide of over 900 cult members. But do you know how it started? Let’s take a look at what led to this unfortunate event. Early Church Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana was a religious church based around unorthodox...
by qdmhistory | Nov 17, 2021 | Popular
In the years before the ascension of Elizabeth I, England experienced much political and social change. Elizabeth’s father, King Henry the VIII, caused religious disorder and upset over his marital scandals when he broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and...
by qdmhistory | Nov 16, 2021 | Popular
The hills were alive with The Sound of Music in the Lunt-Fontanne Theater in New York City on this day. That was when Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic Broadway musical opened with Mary Martin playing Maria von Trapp. The show was based on the real-life...
by qdmhistory | Nov 15, 2021 | Popular
King Camp Gillette was a marketing genius. How else can you accurately describe a man who came up with the revolutionary idea of selling one item at a cheap price to catapult the sales of the other? His idea was to sell razors cheaply to increase the popularity and...
by qdmhistory | Nov 14, 2021 | Popular
Twenty-two million tourists flock to Niagara Falls in New York each year. This majestic natural wonder is likely named from the Iroquois word niakare meaning “great noise.” This is a fitting name, considering two trillion liters of water flow through the...
by qdmhistory | Nov 13, 2021 | Popular
The Stamford Bull Run was a bull-running event held every year on St. Brice’s Day (November 13) in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. The Run began during the reign of King John (1199-1266). Festivities began with the ringing of the bells of St. Mary’s...
by qdmhistory | Nov 12, 2021 | Popular
If there was ever a real-life fairy tale, it’s the story of Grace Patricia Kelly. Known simply as Grace Kelly, this iconic American film actress would go on to become the Princess of Monaco. Early Life Grace Kelly was born November 12, 1929, to successful,...
by qdmhistory | Nov 11, 2021 | Popular
November 11, 1918, WWI armistice signed by the Allies and Germany comes into effect and World War I hostilities end at 11 am, “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” The Monday of November 11, 1918, saw an end to months of bloodshed....
by qdmhistory | Nov 10, 2021 | History
November 10, 1969, was a Monday like no other. The kids’ show Sesame Street was set to premiere on PBS TV, and no one was more excited than the kids who would get to watch it. The show was expected to air on the public broadcasting service. A first of its kind,...
by qdmhistory | Nov 9, 2021 | Popular
Born Napoleon di Buonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte fought his way to power on November 9, 1799. The famous Coup 18 Brumaire was his ticket into French leadership. You have probably heard his name mentioned in the realms of French history. As the exceptional military man...
by qdmhistory | Nov 8, 2021 | Popular
On November 8, 1731, Benjamin Franklin opened the first library in the North American colonies. The Library Company of Philadelphia was the first circulating library in America. Before this, most Americans did not have access to books as they were expensive. Only the...
by qdmhistory | Nov 7, 2021 | Popular
On November 7, 1805, Captain William Clark wrote in his notebook about “great joy in camp.” Clark believes the Lewis and Clark Expedition is finally in sight of the Pacific Ocean. Imagine the depth of their joy after so long in the wilderness....
by qdmhistory | Nov 6, 2021 | Popular
We all know of Mahatma Gandhi’s fight for freedom in India. But few of us understand what culminated in this cause. In 1893, a shy Indian lawyer named Mahatma Karamchand Gandhi arrived in Durban, South Africa, to represent Messrs Dada Abdullah’s firm in a...
by qdmhistory | Nov 5, 2021 | Popular
The Gunpowder Plot was a botched attempt to blow up King James I of England and his entire Parliament on November 5, 1605. Guy Fawkes was caught with thirty-six barrels of gunpowder in the cellars beneath Westminster on that fateful midnight of November 4, 1605. He...
by qdmhistory | Nov 4, 2021 | Popular
Howard Carter, a British Egyptologist and his team began excavating the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt, on November 4, 1922. Tutankhamun, alias King Tut, was an Egyptian pharaoh who became ruler at nine years old in 1333 B.C until his death a...
by qdmhistory | Nov 3, 2021 | Popular
George Frideric Handel born in 1685, and he died in 1759. George Frideric Handel was a great German-English composer who became slightly blind in 1751. The eye problem affected his music career negatively. George Frideric Handel found it challenging to finish his...
by qdmhistory | Nov 2, 2021 | History
On November 2, 1937, business magnate, engineer, and record-setting pilot Howard Hughes’s Spruce Goose, or the Hughes H-4 Hercules, took flight. At the time of construction, the Spruce Goose was the largest aircraft that had ever been built and boasted a...
by qdmhistory | Nov 1, 2021 | History
In the 18th century, Lisbon was the flourishing capital of Portugal. Until the fateful day, November 1st, 1755. An earthquake of never before seen magnitude brought the city to its knees. Fifty thousand men and women lost their lives to the quake. After this day,...
by qdmhistory | Oct 31, 2021 | History
In 1503 Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to repaint the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Rome; however, he did not live to see the finished work. On October 31, 1541, Pope Paul III and Emperor Charles V attended a ceremony unveiling Michelangelo’s...
by qdmhistory | Oct 30, 2021 | Popular
The year 1945 was a year of wars ending, soldiers returning home, and segregation. The African American men who fought in World War 2 returned home to violent mods, racism and hatred. Even though this year and more years to come were all battles fought by African...
by qdmhistory | Oct 29, 2021 | History
The events of October 29, 1929, or Black Tuesday as it is called, had far-reaching consequences that led to a decade-long economic slump felt throughout the United States and the world, shaping history and causing widespread suffering. A Weakening Economy in a...
by qdmhistory | Oct 28, 2021 | History
The Volstead Act, formally known as the National Prohibition Act of 1919, was passed on October 28, 1919, to implement the eighteenth amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors and beverages in the United States. Wayne...
by qdmhistory | Oct 27, 2021 | Popular
Walt Disney’s first television show “Disneyland” premiered on the ABC-TV network on October 27, 1954. Hosted by Walt Disney himself, Disneyland was the network’s first major hit series getting the show to unimaginable heights all through the...
by qdmhistory | Oct 26, 2021 | History
One time in history, young men rode horses to deliver mail from Missouri to California. This first-time journey took ten days. The communication system along the Pony Express National Historic Trail was one of the direct and practical means of east-west communications...
by qdmhistory | Oct 25, 2021 | History
Albert B. Fall was a cabinet secretary during the reign of President Warren G. Harding. Albert B. Fall was, however, found guilty of accepting a bribe while serving as a secretary. Albert B. Fall was the first to be imprisoned for committing a crime while serving in...
by qdmhistory | Oct 24, 2021 | Trending
October 24, 1962 was a critical day in the unfolding of the Cuban Missile Crisis, a tense 13-day confrontation between the U.S. and the USSR that nearly provoked a nuclear war. On this day, Soviet ships heading for Cuba approached a blockade of U.S. vessels enacted by...
by qdmhistory | Oct 23, 2021 | History
Also known as the Turco-Italian War, the Italo-Turkish war was between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Italy. It was aimed at acquiring colonies in North Africa by conquering Libya and Tripolitania. The war took place between September 1911 and October 1912. The...
by qdmhistory | Oct 22, 2021 | History
On October 22, 1962, U.S. President John F. Kennedy addressed the nation in a televised speech announcing the discovery of several Soviet missile bases in Cuba. Spotted by American spy planes, he stated their construction was nearing completion. Once fully functional,...
by qdmhistory | Oct 21, 2021 | History
Florence Nightingale arrived in Turkey on November 4, 1854, during the Crimean war (1854-1856). Britain was at war with Russia; as a result, the soldiers were fatally wounded. Florence left England for Turkey, accompanied by 38 nurses to save the soldiers’...
by qdmhistory | Oct 20, 2021 | Popular
The WW1 Armistice was a truce that marked the end of warfare between Germany and the Allies on November 11, 1918. However, it was not the end of the First World War itself but an agreement that stopped the Western Front’s aggression while terms of permanent...
by qdmhistory | Oct 19, 2021 | Popular
Born on 24 December 1166, King John lived his life doing his best to make England great. King John, however, died on 19 October 1216 while in the position of leadership. King John is the child of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He began ruling as the...
by qdmhistory | Oct 18, 2021 | Popular
On this day in history, October 21, 1931, the legendary gangster Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion and finally jailed. While his list of crimes is long and brutal, it was the offense of tax evasion which finally brought down the infamous crime boss. Charged with...
by qdmhistory | Oct 17, 2021 | Trending
The Burma-Thailand Railway might seem like an idyllic way to see beautiful scenery in countries less heavily trafficked by tourists, but many don’t know of its existence; its dark past largely obscured by horrors on the battlefields raging across Europe and...
by qdmhistory | Oct 16, 2021 | Popular
The Battle of Leipzig, also known as the Battle of Nations, was one of the most significant battles in history and the largest in Europe until the First World War. It was a decisive battle in the Napoleonic Wars, which involved five armies and nearly half a million...
by qdmhistory | Oct 15, 2021 | Popular
By 1969, the US had been involved in the Vietnam War for over a decade and suffered over 40,000 casualties. Though many politicians insisted the war was necessary to stop the spread of Communism further into Asia, the conflict and the draft remained deeply unpopular...
by qdmhistory | Oct 14, 2021 | Suggested
On October 14, 1982, U.S. President Ronald Reagan resolved to put an end to rampant drug abuse. He deemed the use of illicit drugs a threat to national security. While he was not the first president to concern himself with the issue of substance abuse (before him,...
by qdmhistory | Oct 13, 2021 | Popular
On October 13, 2010, 33 miners slowly emerged from a capsule that was repeatedly lowered deep in the ground. The miners had been trapped far underground for 69 days, ever since an explosion in the mine had trapped them there on August 5th. For 17 days after the...
by qdmhistory | Oct 12, 2021 | Popular
Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, and his crew left Spain with 3 ships named: the Pinta, the Santa Maria, and the Nina for his first voyage at sea. He wanted to discover a new route to the Orient. He also wanted to bring back treasures for Spain. On this...
by qdmhistory | Oct 11, 2021 | Suggested
Saturday Night Live is one of those rare shows that have managed to become a fixture of American pop culture. However, everything has to start out somewhere. In its case, the first episode of Saturday Night Live aired on October 11 of 1975 with George Carlin as the...
by qdmhistory | Oct 10, 2021 | Popular
The Windscale plant fire accident on October 10, 1957 was Britain’s most severe nuclear accident. The Windscale nuclear reactor plant was producing plutonium for the UK to make its atomic hydrogen bombs. Britain used the first explosive material to test its...
by qdmhistory | Oct 9, 2021 | Popular
On this day of October 9 in 1986, The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber premiered in London’s West End, and it has since gone on to become the most successful stage musical of the contemporary era, as well as the longest-running on Broadway. Who can...
by qdmhistory | Oct 8, 2021 | Suggested
Wangari Maathai was born on April 1, 1940 in Nyeri, Kenya. She is renowned for becoming the first female scholar from central and East Africa to take a biology doctorate. Maathai has been a pioneer in many things that women had not experienced before. For example,...
by qdmhistory | Oct 7, 2021 | Popular
On October 7th, the famed musical “Cats” debuted on Broadway in New York City. It was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on a 1939 collection of poetry by T. S. Eliot called “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” which is where...
by qdmhistory | Oct 6, 2021 | Popular
While the name Jonas Salk may be synonymous with the polio vaccine, another scientist whose vaccine ended up becoming more prevalent worldwide. Albert Sabin introduced his oral vaccine against polio on this day in history, and it has since become one of the most...
by qdmhistory | Oct 5, 2021 | Suggested
The live presidential address was prompted by a report from Truman’s Cabinet Committee that warned of an impending famine disaster in Europe. During the address, the 33rd president urged Americans to cut down on their use of grain, forgo meat on Tuesday, eggs...
by qdmhistory | Oct 4, 2021 | Popular
Sputnik I, the world’s first artificial Earth satellite, was launched into orbit around Earth on October 4th, 1957, by the Soviet Union. Sputnik I Sputnik I was about the size of a basketball, weighed only 183 pounds, and took about 96 minutes to orbit the Earth...
by qdmhistory | Oct 3, 2021 | Popular
One of America’s great authors, Poe, was found by Joseph W. Walker at Ryan’s Fourth Ward Polls in ‘great distress, and in need of immediate assistance” on October 3, 1849. A letter Poe wrote to a poet called Mrs. St. Leon suggests that he was going...
![1869 Mahatma Gandhi [Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi], born in British India](https://todayinhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_265179500-1.jpg)
by qdmhistory | Oct 2, 2021 | Suggested
Today, Gandhi is a celebrated hero, not just in India but the world over. His birthday, October 2, is the world’s International Day of Non-violence. In India, the day is a national holiday. His Philosophies Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence philosophy can be...
by qdmhistory | Oct 1, 2021 | History
In 1910 on the first day of October, in Rowena, Texas Bonnie Parker was born. Bonnie was the second child in a family of three. Bonnie Parker’s bricklayer father, Charles Robert Parker, died when Bonnie was one year old. Bonnie’s widowed mother, Emma...
by qdmhistory | Sep 30, 2021 | Suggested
In 1846, the first clinical case involving the use of ether for dental anesthesia occurred. Dentist William Morton was the surgeon in charge of the procedure which happened in Boston. On March 30, 1842, Dr. Crawford Long used ether when removing a tumor from a...
by qdmhistory | Sep 29, 2021 | History
September, 29th 1863, was when the famous lyrics “Les Pêcheurs de Perles” aka the “Pearl Fishers” were produced at the Theatre Lyrics in Paris. Recited and performed by Carré and Cormon and composed by Georges Bizet, the opera act stole the hearts of opera and poetic...
by qdmhistory | Sep 28, 2021 | Popular
Confucius is one of the most famous ancient Chinese philosophers. His teachings are a moral and ethical compass for people wishing to live fulfilling and meaningful lives under Confucianism. Early life and family of Confucius Confucius was born on September 28th, 551...
by qdmhistory | Sep 27, 2021 | Popular
If you have been to the British Museum, you have probably noticed a stone with hieroglyphic inscriptions called the Rosetta stone. In 1799, a French officer named Bouchard unraveled a mystery stone with inscriptions of the Egyptian hieroglyphic texts. Tracing its...
by qdmhistory | Sep 26, 2021 | Suggested
After the black death tragedy of 1348, London never imagined it could experience a worse plague again. On September 26, 1665, the Great Plague of London hit its population hard, causing 68,596 deaths. Some researchers argue that the actual number was over 100,000....
by qdmhistory | Sep 25, 2021 | Popular
If you are wondering about how the 9 am-5 pm jobs came into existence, it will surprise you to know that Henry Ford was the mastermind. Back in the 1920s, the Ford Company came up with a welfare department that looked out for the plight of its workers. To help his...
by qdmhistory | Sep 24, 2021 | Suggested
Jews had lived in Yemen for years, even before the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BC. The community had grown from the Maccabees’ time after the Second Temple’s destruction in 70 BC. Even though they comprised majorly small communities that lived in isolation,...
by qdmhistory | Sep 23, 2021 | Suggested
On September 4, 1957, 9 black students, historically known as the Little Rock Nine, were denied entry by armed troops in the Arkansas National Guard, resulting in an altercation. Images of the African American students being screamed at, mocked and spat on became...
by qdmhistory | Sep 22, 2021 | Popular
Before it was known that poisonous rye was the cause of hallucinations and convulsions in some of the local townsfolk, hysterical teenagers and vicious rumors caused widespread panic in the town of Salem. Teenage girls were thought to be possessed by Satan after...
by qdmhistory | Sep 21, 2021 | Popular
Stonehenge is a Unesco World Heritage site that is as iconic as it is mysterious. Today the ancient stone circle on Salisbury Plain is considered the most important monument in England under the British government’s ownership. However, Stonehenge wasn’t always a...
by qdmhistory | Sep 20, 2021 | History
On his day in history, Sept.20th, 1881, The 21st President of the United States was sworn into office. The year 1881 began with a Republican president, Rutherford B. Hayes. He served out his one and only term, and then he officially turned over the reins to James A....
by qdmhistory | Sep 19, 2021 | History, Popular
On Sept 19, 1976, a newspaper in Philadelphia published what is now regarded as the first president’s legacy to the people of America, known as George Washington’s Farewell. As his second term came to an end, President George Washington decided not to seek...
by qdmhistory | Sep 18, 2021 | Popular
September 18, 1947 – With the passing of The National Security Act by President Harry S. Truman earlier in the year, this day marked the beginning of operations for The United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Following the events of World War II, The U.S....
by qdmhistory | Sep 17, 2021 | Suggested
On September 17, 1916, the pilot famously known as the Red Baron completed the first combat kill of his career by gunning down a British plane in Northern France. The Red Baron would go on to achieve 80 successful missions in aerial warfare. Manfred Albrecht Freiherr...
by qdmhistory | Sep 16, 2021 | Popular
September 16, 1997 – Following the acquisition of NeXT Inc. by Apple Computers, Steve Jobs was named (Interim) CEO of the company he had cofounded years before. Jobs and partner Steve Wozniak founded Apple computers in 1976. By the mid-80s, Jobs had moved on to other...
by qdmhistory | Sep 15, 2021 | Popular
On this day in 1916, the first tanks were deployed during warfare. The First Use of Tanks in Warfare In the Battle of the Somme, the British deployed the British Mark I tank in a massive offensive move against the Germans. The British Mark I was the very first tank...
by qdmhistory | Sep 14, 2021 | Popular
Following President William McKinley’s assassination, Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as the United States president on September 14th, 1901. He was only 42 years at the time and became the 26th president of the United States. His inauguration was the fifth...
by qdmhistory | Sep 13, 2021 | Popular
The day was September 12, 1940. Eighteen-year-old Marcel Ravidat was following his dog down a hole near Montignac, France, and stumbled upon the archaeological equivalent of an ancient museum. Not just any museum, but a literal time machine that gave a peek into our...
by qdmhistory | Sep 12, 2021 | Suggested
The day was September 12, 1940. Eighteen-year-old Marcel Ravidat was following his dog down a hole near Montignac, France, and stumbled upon the archaeological equivalent of an ancient museum, known as the Lascaux Cave Paintings. Not just any museum, but a literal...
by qdmhistory | Sep 11, 2021 | History, Popular
On the morning of Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, America experienced what we can only describe as the worst terrorist attack in history. The pentagon and the world trade towers were hit. Everyone was going about their business, unaware that the global terrorist...
by qdmhistory | Sep 10, 2021 | Suggested
It was almost a century ago, on September 10, 1924, that two Chicago killers were found guilty of kidnapping and killing Robert “Bobby” Franks, a teenage boy, for an “intellectual thrill.” Nathan F. Leopold, Jr. and Richard A. Loeb were defended by Clarence Darrow, a...
by qdmhistory | Sep 9, 2021 | History, Popular
There is a huge emphasis on the 1972 summer Olympics being non-political. But, unfortunately, the US vs. USSR events have always been political for the simple reason that its results are a matter of national pride. As such, there are a number of Olympic match-ups...
by qdmhistory | Sep 8, 2021 | Suggested
On September 8th, 1504, one of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, Statue of David, was unveiled in Italy’s Piazza Della Signoria. The glorious 17-foot marble sculpture portrays a naked David contemplating his upcoming battle with Goliath. Unlike previous depictions that...
by qdmhistory | Sep 7, 2021 | History, Suggested
It wasn’t long ago that a newborn’s care was limited to the confines of the house. As a result, childbirth was frequently a risky experience, with preterm or unwell newborns sometimes dying without medical attention. Hospitals began grouping neonates into...
by qdmhistory | Sep 6, 2021 | History
On September 6th, 1916, the first true American supermarket opened. Its name was Piggly Wiggly. The store opened in Memphis, Tennessee, and since its opening in 1916, it has amassed 530 stores across seventeen states in the United States. The reason why it’s the first...
by qdmhistory | Sep 5, 2021 | Popular
Jesse James was a bank and train robber in the American Old West, best remembered as the gang of outlaws known as the James-Younger. Before embarking on criminal careers in the Old West, Jesse James and his brother Frank served in the Confederate Army. As leaders of...
by qdmhistory | Sep 4, 2021 | Suggested
In 1888, George Eastman (born in 1854) patented the first roll-film camera, which could take pictures and make them available to be used by photographers worldwide. He filed it with the U.S. Patent Office on September 4, 1888. This invention is now known as cameras...
by qdmhistory | Sep 3, 2021 | Suggested
Louis Sullivan, the full name Louis Henry Sullivan, was an American architect regarded as the spiritual father of modern American architecture and associated with the aesthetics of early skyscraper design. He was born September 3, 1856, in Boston, Massachusetts, and...
by qdmhistory | Sep 2, 2021 | Popular
In 1666, an overwhelming fire swept through the streets of London. The great fire of London destroyed 13,200 houses and 87 parish churches. It is also reported that the St. Paul’s Cathedral, Royal Exchange and Guildhall were lost in the fire. Not to mention are...
by qdmhistory | Sep 1, 2021 | Suggested
The Liberty Bell is one of America’s iconic symbols of Independence. The liberty bell (also known as the State House Bell or Old State House Bell) is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Commissioned on September 1, 1752, by the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly from...
by qdmhistory | Aug 31, 2021 | History, Popular
The death of Princess Diana of Wales, on August 31, 1997, sent shockwaves around the globe. The beloved princess was well known for her charitable causes and kind way with the less fortunate. She was 36 years old. On the night of her death, Diana was with her...
by qdmhistory | Aug 30, 2021 | History, Suggested
Constructed in 1899 for France’s World’s Fair, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. Named for its creator, Gustave Eiffel, the tower has become a cultural icon that is still praised for its elegant design. The Eiffel...
by qdmhistory | Aug 29, 2021 | History
Frank Seiberling founded the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company on 29th August 1898. The company was named after Charles Goodyear, who was the inventor of vulcanized rubber. Goodyear is an American multinational tire manufacturing company that is based in Akron, Ohio,...
by qdmhistory | Aug 28, 2021 | History, Suggested
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the famous; I have a dream speech which remains the central part of his legacy. He addressed the speech to a crowd of over 250,000 people who gathered for the March on Washington for Freedoms and Jobs at Lincoln...
by qdmhistory | Aug 27, 2021 | History, Suggested
Paul Reubens, famously known as a comedian in Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure as Pee-Wee Herman, was born on August 27- 1952, in Peekskill, New York. Contrary to the expectations of his parents, father, a car salesman, and mother, a teacher, Reubens started showing...
by qdmhistory | Aug 26, 2021 | History, Suggested
Mesmerized with magic as a child, Hungarian-born Erik Weisz first attracted attention in the United States while performing in vaudeville. While he and his brother were performing in Coney Island, he met Wilhelmina Beatrice “Bess” Rahner, a fellow...
by qdmhistory | Aug 25, 2021 | History, Popular
Amelia Earhart was a notable female pilot who was born on July 24, 1897, and mysteriously disappeared on July 2, 1937. Apart from her transcontinental flight record on August 25, 1932, she also set many other significant records before. Amelia was born in the United...
by qdmhistory | Aug 24, 2021 | History
On the exciting day of August 24th, 1891, Thomas Edison was awarded a patent for his ingenious new invention: the Kinetograph. This first-of-its-kind motion picture camera was made using a wooden cabinet, about 50 feet of 35 mm film and an electrically driven sprocket...
by qdmhistory | Aug 23, 2021 | History
Mount Vesuvius is an active volcano that can be found on the Gulf of Naples. It has erupted on numerous occasions. However, its surroundings have nonetheless been well-populated since ancient times because of its fertile soil. This is why Mount Vesuvius is best known...
by qdmhistory | Aug 22, 2021 | History, Suggested
On August 22, 1927, Yankees superstar Babe Ruth hit his 40th home run of the 1927 season, further cementing his title as a baseball hall-of-fame legend. Born in 1895, Babe Ruth began his major-league baseball career as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in 1914....
by qdmhistory | Aug 21, 2021 | History
The heist of the world-famous painting Mona Lisa on August 21, 1911, by Vincenzo Peruggia still baffles the world. It is known as the greatest art theft in history and boosted the publicity of the painting. Vincenzo Peruggia was an artist and an Italian worker at the...
by qdmhistory | Aug 20, 2021 | History
There is no universal consensus on the turning point of the American Civil War. However, it is common for people to point to the Battle of Gettysburg and the conclusion of the Siege of Vicksburg, both of which happened in early July of 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg...
by qdmhistory | Aug 19, 2021 | History, Suggested
Generally speaking, westerners remember Operation Barbarossa as an invasion of the Soviet Union carried out by Germany and Germany alone. However, this is quite inaccurate because Nazi Germany was supported by five other countries, which explains why the initiative...
by qdmhistory | Aug 18, 2021 | Suggested
Lou Gehrig, a member of the New York Yankees, played his 1,000th consecutive game away from home against the Detroit Tigers at Navin Field in Detroit, MI. Lou had played for the Yankees since 1923. Lou and the Yankees faced Earl Whitehill for nine innings and relief...
by qdmhistory | Aug 17, 2021 | History
Unknown to the world, an award-winning star was born on August 17, 1960, in Santa Monica, California. Born of parents who both had a passion and experience in theatre and acting, it is no surprise that Sean Penn found his life’s path in acting and directing...
by qdmhistory | Aug 16, 2021 | History, Popular
On this day in history— in the year 1888— the creator of Coca-Cola, named John Stith Pemberton, died of stomach cancer. Pemberton was just 57 years old at the time of his death; however, his creation has lived on well beyond the nineteenth century. In fact, the...
by qdmhistory | Aug 15, 2021 | History, Suggested
The Mayflower voyage was a plan for two groups that were escaping religious persecution in their homeland. The separatists were living in Holland while their counterparts were from the UK. The two groups were to meet at Southampton to discuss their journey in the port...
by qdmhistory | Aug 14, 2021 | History
On the morning of August 14, 1945, the news that Japan had surrendered and effectively ended World War II was met with overwhelming celebration across the world. Times Square was marred with throngs of excitement as exhausted Americans held up newspapers with their...
by qdmhistory | Aug 13, 2021 | History
Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker are perhaps the most notorious couple ever; the two went through an infamous crime spree during the Great Depression that ultimately led to their demise. The couple has since become pop culture icons, with several screenplays written...
by qdmhistory | Aug 12, 2021 | History
On August 12, 1908, the Henry Ford company built the first Model T car. The new model was the fruit of a long and arduous journey of the invention that led to one of the most iconic cars in history. This day is considered by many to be the beginning of the American...
by qdmhistory | Aug 11, 2021 | History
Steve Wozniak, computer programmer inventor, engineer and philanthropist, was born on August 8, 1950, in San Jose, CA. As many refer to him, “Woz” is the son of an engineer who worked at Lockheed. From an early age, Wozniak showed interest in electronics,...
by qdmhistory | Aug 10, 2021 | History, Suggested
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum complex. After over a decade of debate between Congress and the public, the United States passed legislation founding the Smithsonian Institution on August 10th, 1846. The legislation was signed into law...
by qdmhistory | Aug 9, 2021 | History
Betty Boop made her debut on August 9, 1930, in “Dizzy Dishes” with her trademark heels, garter and long eyelashes. In this iconic Max Fleischer cartoon, waiter/chef/dog Bimbo scrambles to serve a roast duck to a gorilla in a nightclub. When he sees Betty...
by qdmhistory | Aug 8, 2021 | History
President Richard M Nixon announced his intention to resign from office on August 8, 1974. Before his resignation, the president was facing impeachment over his involvement in the Watergate scandal. The Watergate affair began on June 17, 1972, when several burglars...
by qdmhistory | Aug 7, 2021 | History, Popular
On August 7, 1990, President George Herbert Walker Bush issued an order to coordinate Operation Desert Shield. Operation Desert Shield was a military response to Iraq’s invasion of its neighbor Kuwait. Iraq’s President Saddam Hussein publicly claimed that...
by qdmhistory | Aug 6, 2021 | History
On the break of dawn of August 6, 1890, Kemmler awoke to his execution which was the first of its kind. After quickly donning a suit, having breakfast, and saying a silent prayer, his head was shaved. Kemmler was then presented to 17 witnesses who were in attendance...
by qdmhistory | Aug 5, 2021 | History
Unknown to the public, August 5, 1966, revolutionized the music industry and the social and political space. On this day, The Beatles’ album Revolver was issued, alongside the single ‘Eleanor Rigby/Yellow Submarine.’ The single is perhaps one of the...
by qdmhistory | Aug 4, 2021 | History, Suggested
The 4th of August 1944 was an eventful Friday for Anne Frank and her family. It was a sunny and warm day. To Anne and the people hiding, it was the 761st day since they took shelter in one of her father’s warehouses, a secret Annex in Amsterdam. German police...
by qdmhistory | Aug 3, 2021 | History, Popular
For three years, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and National Basketball League (NBL) competed to win players and fans. However, on August 3, 1949, the world witnessed an unbelievable twist of events. The two teams merged to create the National Basketball...
by qdmhistory | Aug 2, 2021 | History
The members of Congress signed the declaration of independence on August 2, 1776. The delegation constituted 56 members, among them some who missed out on the voting of the approval. They signed the delegation by State, starting from North to South, beginning with New...
by qdmhistory | Aug 1, 2021 | History, Popular
On August 1, 1770, William Clark was born in Ladysmith, the eldest son of John and Sarah Clark. He grew up on the family farm and received his education in a one-room schoolhouse. When he was nine years old, he discovered his love for exploring. His father encouraged...
by qdmhistory | Jul 31, 2021 | History, Suggested
Pilgrim Fathers refer to a group of separatists who fled England because of religious intolerance against Protestant England. The intolerance was at its peak during the reign of James, who wanted to create another English colony in what was referred to as the New...
by qdmhistory | Jul 30, 2021 | History
With e-books all the rage and paperback books available on every bookseller’s website and in every brick-and-mortar bookshop, it can be hard to envision a world where paperback books are a novelty and not a standard. But, before the 1930s, almost all books were...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 29, 2021 | History
According to police, British rock and roll band Led Zeppelin was robbed of more than $200,000 in cash from a hotel safety deposit box. On July 29, 1973, Led Zeppelin road manager Richard Cole realized that their hotel safety deposit box had been stolen as the band was...
by qdmhistory | Jul 28, 2021 | History
Jim Davis was born on July 28, 1945, in Marion, Indiana. He is an American cartoonist and creator of the two famous comic strips, U.S. Acres and Garfield. Davis grew up with his mother Catherine Anna Davis, father William James Davis and brother Dave on a farm in...
by qdmhistory | Jul 27, 2021 | History
Everyone who enjoys cartoons must know a thing or two about Warner Bros, though a few may know about Bugs Bunny, an animated cartoon character that debuted on July 27, 1940. Bugs Bunny is known for starring in Merrie Melodies and the Looney Tunes series of short...
by qdmhistory | Jul 26, 2021 | Trending
On July 26, 1953, a small army of brave and righteous youthful Cubans took the Moncada Barracks in Santiago City by storm. Even though it was a failed attack against the then-dictator named Fulgencio Batista, the world cannot help but mark it as a special day in...
by qdmhistory | Jul 25, 2021 | History
As early as 1965, Bob Dylan had become a top songwriter of the folk music revival in America. The response to his albums has been described by many as electric, which helped him become branded as the spokesperson of a generation. However, on July 25- 1965, Bob Dylan...
by qdmhistory | Jul 24, 2021 | History
On the 24th of July 1911, American archeologist Hiram Bingham made his first visit to the ruins of the Inca settlement of Machu Picchu, which has since become one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. A hilly region northwest of Cuzco, Machu Picchu...
by qdmhistory | Jul 23, 2021 | History
In what solidified Tiger Woods meteoric rise to golf greats, July 23rd, 2000, was the day Woods beat Thomas Bjørn and Ernie Els to win his first Open title; at 24, Woods is the youngest player ever to win all 4 major titles. Considered a phenom resulting from...
by qdmhistory | Jul 22, 2021 | Popular
On July 22, 81 years ago, legendary Canadian American game show host Alex Trebek was born in Sudbury, Ontario. This is a bittersweet birthday for fans of the industry titan who passed away in November 2020 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Who is Alex Trebek? As...
by qdmhistory | Jul 21, 2021 | Popular
“That’s one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind,” said Commander Neil Armstrong as he took his first steps on the Moon. A staggering 650 million people worldwide heard Armstrong’s words through their televisions as they watched him...
by qdmhistory | Jul 20, 2021 | History
History was made on October 4, 1957, history when the Soviet Union sent the first man-made aircraft into earth’s orbit with Sputnik I, a shock to the United States government and scientific community. National security implications were huge; an adversary who...
by qdmhistory | Jul 19, 2021 | History
The Seneca Falls Convention was the USA’s first woman’s rights convention. It took place on July 19, 1848, at the Wesleyan Chapel in New York’s Seneca Falls. It was in this meeting where the participants launched the women’s suffrage movement...
by qdmhistory | Jul 18, 2021 | History
On July 18, 2013, the city of Detroit, Michigan, filed for bankruptcy, becoming the largest U.S. municipal bankruptcy ever at $18.8 billion. While America has seen a number of bankruptcies, the city of Detroit is the largest on to file for Chapter 9 Bankruptcy....
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 18, 2021 | History
Despite the societal norms that discouraged women from publishing, Jane Austen, a woman of her time, managed to overcome these challenges. In an era when women were expected to focus on household duties, she defied the odds and published six novels before her death,...
by qdmhistory | Jul 17, 2021 | Popular
The Allied powers were not of one mind throughout WW2. As a result, there were three major conferences held between the leaders of the United States, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom to facilitate their coordination with one another. The first was the...
by qdmhistory | Jul 16, 2021 | Popular
July 16, 1943, is an important year for the NFL; it’s the day when Jimmy Johnson was born in Port Arthur, Texas. Johnson was a college and an American NFL coach. During his coaching career, he was a football coach for teams like Dolphins, Cowboys and Hurricanes....
by qdmhistory | Jul 15, 2021 | Popular
Released in 1972, Honky Chateau is the fifth studio album by Elton John. On July 15th, 1972, the album became No. 1 in the United States. This ranking started a streak of 7 consecutive No. 1 albums for Elton John, certifying him as one of the all-time greats. ...
by qdmhistory | Jul 14, 2021 | Popular
On July 14, 1933, led by Aldof Hitler, the Nazi political party banned all other political parties in Germany. Hitler had just become the chancellor of the country on January 30, the same year. As soon as he took the reigns of power, Hitler utilized the...
by qdmhistory | Jul 13, 2021 | Popular
It was on this date, July 13, 1923, that possibly the most renowned sign in the movie industry, the Hollywood sign, was officially dedicated to the Hollywood Hills atop Mount Lee in Los Angeles, California. The 50-foot letters were initially intended to spell...
by qdmhistory | Jul 12, 2021 | Suggested
For most of the 19th century, smoking was a national pastime. A multitude of ads and media created a culture around smoking. During this time, the idea that smoking is dangerous wasn’t accepted as it is today, and there were many lobbyists that wanted to keep it...
by qdmhistory | Jul 11, 2021 | Popular
On television, the year 1966 saw a number of noteworthy events. One such event took place on July 11, 1966, when the ABC television network premiered The Newlywed Game. In this American game show, Newlywed couples competed in a series of revealing question rounds to...
by qdmhistory | Jul 10, 2021 | Popular
The Kingdom of France was a long-time rival of England and then England-centric Great Britain. To name an example of their conflicts, it lost every single one of its North American holdings in 1763 because of the Seven Years’ War, meaning that it was eager for...
by qdmhistory | Jul 9, 2021 | Popular
Fred Savage was born on July 9th, 1976 to Joanne and Lewis Savage. Growing up in Chicago, Fred had two siblings, Ben and Kala, who both also went into acting. His first onscreen performance was in Morningstar/Eveningstar at the young age of 9, which led to a...
by qdmhistory | Jul 8, 2021 | History
Smallpox was an extremely infectious viral disease that often horribly disfigured and killed those who were unfortunate enough to contract the virus. Declared eradicated by the World Health Organization in 1980, smallpox plagued the planet for centuries, killing on...
by qdmhistory | Jul 7, 2021 | History
The Roswell event was a crash of a US troop balloon on a Roswell, New Mexico ranch in July 1947. Following conspiracy theories suggesting that the crash was a floating saucer and that the US government covered up the truth. Roswell Army Air Field published a news...
by qdmhistory | Jul 6, 2021 | Suggested
On July 6-1885, world-renowned French chemist and bacteriologist Louis Pasteur administered the first anti-rabies vaccine to a nine-year-old boy. On this day in history, Pasteur’s anti-rabies inoculation saved the life of a young Joseph Meister, who would become...
by qdmhistory | Jul 5, 2021 | Suggested
On a late summer day in 16th century England Isaac Newton’s first book, which he had been working on for several years, was finally published. The Royal Society of England published his work, Principia, on July 5th, 1687, nearly two years after Newton completed...
by qdmhistory | Jul 4, 2021 | Suggested
July 4, 1776, represents one of the most significant dates in the United States’ calendar. It was on this day that Congress declared independence from Great Britain. A declaration drafted by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and others showed that...
by qdmhistory | Jul 3, 2021 | History
The Battle of Gettysburg between July 1 and July 3, 1863, is considered the most significant war fought during the American Civil War. It ended with a victory for the Union troops. It began with the Confederates’ Army invasion of Northern Virginia on July 1, led...
by qdmhistory | Jul 2, 2021 | History
The Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act were signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964. The Civil Rights Act states it’s illegal to discriminate against people based on race, color, religion, or national origin. It also prohibits segregation in...
by qdmhistory | Jul 1, 2021 | History
The first TV commercial ever aired in the United States was on July 1, 1941, at 2:29 p.m. At the time, the Brooklyn Dodgers played a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Ebbets Field, New York. The commercial featured on the NBC-owned WNBT (now WNBC),...
by qdmhistory | Jun 30, 2021 | History
What exactly happened in a remote area of Siberia on June 30, 1908? The short answer: no one knows, but some incredible force loud enough to be heard miles away also flattened some 80 million trees near the Stony Tunguska River. Now called the Tunguska Event, it has...
by qdmhistory | Jun 29, 2021 | History
Back in Renaissance England, the theatre was a staple of public entertainment. Theatres charged only a few pennies for admission, and the companies operating them often tried to outdo one another with grandiose special effects. Such efforts turned against...
by qdmhistory | Jun 28, 2021 | History
According to some historians, the shape of world politics changed forever on June 28, 1389. On that day, the Serbian and Ottoman armies clashed on the outskirts of what is now Kosovo. Though both sides suffered heavy losses, the Ottoman armies managed to squeak out a...
by qdmhistory | Jun 27, 2021 | History
In a dark theater at Bell Labs in New York City on June 27th, 1929, a woman sat in front of a lamp flickering across her face and dress. Within moments, her moving image was transmitted to a television screen across the room. The first color tv moment was broadcasted....
by qdmhistory | Jun 26, 2021 | History
The first 14,000 infantry U.S. troops landed in France at the port of Saint-Nazaire on June 26, 1917, during World War I. The motive to keep the site secret from the German submarines was thwarted by the sizable enthusiastic crowd that waited to welcome them....
by qdmhistory | Jun 25, 2021 | History
As early as 1944, with World War II still raging, American leaders knew the next big conflict would be between the United States and the Soviet Union. In the post-war chaos, this conflict settled into what would become known as the Cold War; decades of tension,...
by qdmhistory | Jun 24, 2021 | History
The most influential artist of our time, Pablo Picasso, was born on October 25th, 1881 in Malaga, Spain. His father was a drawing professor inspiring his son into pursuing art, and at the early age of 13, Picasso held his first art exhibition. Later, he dropped his...
by qdmhistory | Jun 23, 2021 | History
The push for reproductive rights has a long and difficult history. With the feminist movement came a push for bodily autonomy. Traditionally in the 1950s, women were not allowed to be prescribed birth control methods in the United States of America due to the...
by qdmhistory | Jun 22, 2021 | History
The signing of the GI Bill took place on June 22, 1944, by US president Franklin D Roosevelt. This bill covered costs for veterans and their families to attend training or schooling. After the end of the war, there was a looming fear of a great depression. To avoid...
by qdmhistory | Jun 21, 2021 | History
On June 21, 1778, New Hampshire voted to ratify the United States Constitution, the ninth state of the original thirteen colonies to do so and the last needed to complete the ratification process. Prior to that, the colonies operated under the Articles of...
