by Matilda Cruz | Nov 30, 2024 | History
On the evening of November 30, 1936, flames lit up the sky over south London. The Crystal Palace, once a shining emblem of Victorian ambition and ingenuity, was reduced to smoldering ruins. The fire started quietly. Then it exploded. Eyewitnesses reported seeing...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 29, 2024 | History
The tradition known as “America’s Game” began on November 29, 1890, when the Army Black Knights of the United States Military Academy faced off against the Navy Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy in their first football matchup. This game became an annual...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 28, 2024 | History
In the 1500s, European exploration was thriving. Countries were making significant advancements in navigation and shipbuilding, aiming to use this technology to amass wealth. Many nations sought new trade routes to India to profit from the lucrative spice trade and to...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 27, 2024 | History
Alfred Nobel was a Swedish inventor, chemist, and industrialist who made a fortune from his 355 inventions, including dynamite. He famously signed his will on November 27, 1895, which outlined that his fortune should be used for the betterment of humanity. This...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 26, 2024 | History
On this day in 1922, the world looked back and saw gold. British archaeologist Howard Carter, along with his patron Lord Carnarvon, became the first people in over 3,000 years to enter the nearly untouched tomb of Tutankhamun, the young pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 25, 2024 | History
On this day in history, on November 25, 1783, the last of the British troops withdrew from New York City after the signing of the Treaty of Paris. This event signified the official end of the American Revolutionary War and the success of the Declaration of...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 24, 2024 | History
Charles Darwin, a 19th-century English naturalist, changed the world with his controversial theories. On November 24, 1859, he challenged the scientific view of biology by publishing his book, On the Origin of Species, in which he explained how life and all its...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 23, 2024 | History
On this day in history, November 23, 1890, a small European nation crowned its youngest monarch. Ten-year-old Wilhelmina of Orange-Nassau became Queen of the Netherlands, stepping into a role her country hadn’t expected her to fill—at least not so soon. Her...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 22, 2024 | History
Margaret Thatcher’s impact on British history and women’s history is undeniable. As the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, she set a precedent for women in leadership roles within government. Serving as Prime Minister for the longest...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 21, 2024 | History
After the failure of the Articles of Confederation, which was the first governmental framework for the newly formed United States of America, the Continental Congress drafted the United States Constitution in 1787. The Constitution was then sent to the states for...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 20, 2024 | History
The world is filled with conflict and disagreement, yet there is a universal consensus that the safety and well-being of children should be a top priority for all. On November 20, 1954, the UN General Assembly officially designated this date as World Children’s Day....
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 19, 2024 | History
On this day in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of something no American president had done before: a library dedicated to his own presidency. Construction began on the 1st Presidential Library on November 19, 1939. The Setting:...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 18, 2024 | History
Mickey Mouse is not only the iconic face of the Walt Disney empire but also a beloved character recognized by all for nearly 100 years. He made his on-screen debut today in history, on November 18, 1928, in the animated short titled Steamboat Willie. Walt’s Win Mickey...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 17, 2024 | History
Britney Spears achieved nearly overnight fame at the age of 16 when she released her first single, “…Baby One More Time,” in late 1998. Her album of the same name was released in January 1999, and its reception propelled her into unprecedented...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 16, 2024 | History
On this day in 1907, a land known for cowboys, oil fields, and rich Native American heritage joined the Union. Oklahoma officially became the 46th state of the United States. But this wasn’t just another star added to the flag. It marked the dramatic conclusion...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 15, 2024 | History
In 1776, the thirteen colonies of the United States officially declared their independence from Britain and set out to establish themselves as a new nation. To create a new government separate from that of Britain, the colonies formed the Second Continental Congress,...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 14, 2024 | History
American author Herman Melville is best known for his adventure novels and short stories, which were inspired by his real-life experiences as a sailor on the Pacific Ocean. Today, he is remembered as the author of the Great American Novel, Moby-Dick, which was...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 13, 2024 | History
The Vietnam War lasted from 1955 to 1975 and was highly controversial in the United States, generating significant public opposition. Many people viewed it as an unnecessary conflict in the fight against the spread of communism, and the loss of nearly 58,000 American...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 12, 2024 | History
On this day, a quiet moment marked the end of a thunderous era in American history. Ellis Island, the gateway to the American dream for millions, processed its final immigrant. After 62 years and more than 12 million arrivals, the great doors of Ellis Island closed....
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 11, 2024 | History
In a dusty desert clearing, just 63 miles from Cairo, a war-weary world watched two old enemies take a historic first step. On November 11, 1973, Egypt and Israel signed a six-point ceasefire agreement that began to pull the Middle East back from the brink. Not an...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 10, 2024 | History
On this day in 1925, a legend was born in the small coal-mining village of Pontrhydyfen, Wales. His name at birth was Richard Walter Jenkins Jr., but the world would come to know him as Richard Burton, a voice like thunder, a presence like fire. Early Life...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 9, 2024 | History
On this day in history, the concrete barrier that split a city and symbolized a divided world cracked and crumbled. The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989. Not with bombs. Not with treaties. But with a confused announcement, a crowd’s determination, and history’s...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 8, 2024 | History
On this day in history, an accidental discovery changed the landscape of medical science forever. On November 8, 1895, Wilhelm Röntgen, a German physicist, was experimenting with cathode rays in his home laboratory when he noticed a fluorescent glow across the room....
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 7, 2024 | History
On this day in history, a significant milestone in the struggle for women’s equality and political representation was achieved: Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to the United States Congress. She was elected as a member of the House of...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 6, 2024 | History
The British rock band The Sex Pistols is known for its brief, tumultuous career, which produced only one album and lasted just 2.5 years. Their journey began on November 6, 1975, when they secured their first gig at St. Martin’s School of Art in London. The...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 5, 2024 | History
On November 5, 1733, a modest print shop in New York City introduced a daring new publication to colonial America: The New York Weekly Journal. The printer behind this venture was John Peter Zenger, a German immigrant. The journal aimed to confront corruption and...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 4, 2024 | History
On this day in history, November 4, 2001, large crowds gathered outside a theater in London, eager to catch a glimpse of the actors cast in the movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The film was scheduled to be released to the public just a few weeks later,...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 3, 2024 | History
On this day, a narrow strip of land shook off a giant neighbor and reshaped global trade forever. November 3, 1903: Panama declared its independence from Colombia. It wasn’t just a rebellion. It was a revolution built on ambition, timing, and quiet American backing....
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 2, 2024 | History
On this day, November 2, 1983, Michael Jackson dropped a bombshell on the music world. The single “Thriller” was released, the seventh and final track from an album that had already shattered records. And yet, this one hit even harder. By late 1983, the...
by Matilda Cruz | Nov 1, 2024 | History
On this day in history, President John Adams entered an unfinished mansion in a half-built city, and history followed him through the door. It was called the “President’s House.” The capital was a swampy village still being carved from the wilderness. The mansion...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 31, 2024 | History
In 1918, after the end of the First World War, the world faced a new crisis: a health emergency. In March of that year, cases of a new strain of influenza began to be reported in the United States, and by April, the cases were reported in countries all around the...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 30, 2024 | History
On this day, October 30, 1872, a woman was born who would tell Americans how to behave for the next hundred years. Emily Post didn’t invent etiquette. But she gave it style, heart, and relevance, and made good manners a national obsession. She was born Emily Bruce...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 29, 2024 | History
On this day, October 29, 1787, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart unleashed a storm of sound and sin upon the stage of Prague’s Estates Theatre. The opera is known as Don Giovanni. Who was Don Giovanni? A fictional nobleman, based on the Spanish legend of Don Juan. He seduced...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 28, 2024 | History
In the early 20th century, the Austro-Hungarian Empire remained one of the Great Powers of Europe. Formed in 1867, the Empire established a dual monarchy that combined the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary. However, it was a multiethnic state, and internal...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 27, 2024 | History
Today marks a significant moment in history as New Yorkers opened their morning papers to discover something unusual: an unsigned essay encouraging them to support the newly proposed U.S. Constitution. Published in The Independent Journal on October 27, 1787, the...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 26, 2024 | History
On October 26, 1863, a significant event took place at the Freemasons’ Tavern on Great Queen Street in London: the establishment of The Football Association (FA). This historic meeting marked the official beginning of modern soccer, laying the groundwork for...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 25, 2024 | History
American horror was forever changed on October 25, 1978. The modest $300,000 budget for Halloween, directed by John Carpenter, became a box-office sensation. It ended up grossing $70 million worldwide and is still an iconic movie today. Its influence on horror cinema,...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 24, 2024 | History
The 1870s were marked by significant racial tension in the western United States as many sought to establish themselves and create new lives in the recently acquired territories. Many migrants struggled with unemployment and insecurity, and Chinese immigrants often...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 23, 2024 | History
Hungary officially declared an end to its four decades of communist rule on October 23, 1989. The country took a stance, proclaiming itself a republic and ushering in a new era of democracy. This momentous day in history marked a critical turning point not only for...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 22, 2024 | History
The New York City Marathon witnessed a revolution on October 22, 1978. A Norwegian schoolteacher named Grete Waitz, virtually unknown to the American running world, lined up for her first marathon. Just over two and a half hours later, she crossed the finish line in...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 21, 2024 | History
On October 21, 1964, the movie adaptation of My Fair Lady premiered in New York City at the Criterion Theatre, following months of anticipation and record-breaking early ticket sales. This immensely popular film is based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 20, 2024 | History
On October 20, 1968, Jacqueline Kennedy, widely recognized as the former First Lady of the United States and the widow of President John F. Kennedy, married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. The wedding ceremony took place in a small Greek Orthodox chapel on...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 19, 2024 | History
Today in history, the U.S. Senate passed a groundbreaking piece of legislation aimed at reshaping the landscape of children’s television. On October 19, 1988, the Children’s Television Act was passed to limit commercial advertising during children’s programming and...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 18, 2024 | History
October 18, 1922, marked the emergence of a new kind of institution in Britain. It became one that would revolutionize communication, culture, and public trust. Today in history marks the founding of the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), a collaboration between...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 17, 2024 | History
Many people view the Cold War primarily as a competition for arms between the United States and the Soviet Union. However, numerous other countries also developed their own nuclear weapons during this period. On October 17, 1964, China conducted its first atomic bomb...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 16, 2024 | History
On October 16, 1923, a small animation studio was established in Los Angeles that would eventually evolve into one of the most influential entertainment empires in the world: The Walt Disney Company. In its early days, it was simply called the Disney Brothers Cartoon...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 15, 2024 | History
Marie Stopes was born on October 15, 1880, in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was a child of intellectual privilege who became one of the most controversial and influential figures of the 20th century. A scientist by training and a radical by passion, she advocated for birth...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 14, 2024 | History
On October 14, 1912, an assassination attempt was made on former President Theodore Roosevelt while he was campaigning in Wisconsin for his third term as president. Although he was injured by a bullet fired at close range, he assessed that his wounds were not...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 13, 2024 | History
On October 13, 1884, a massive global decision transformed the way the entire world tells time. Forty-one delegates from twenty-five nations gathered in Washington, D.C., for the International Meridian Conference. The outcome? A vote to adopt the Greenwich...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 12, 2024 | History
Ralph Vaughan Williams was born on October 12, 1872, in the quiet village of Down Ampney in Gloucestershire, England. What began in a small Cotswold parish would evolve into a legacy that defined English classical music for the 20th century. His influence didn’t just...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 11, 2024 | History
Emily Wilding Davison was born on October 11, 1872, in Greenwich, London. She dedicated her life to the fight for justice and the relentless pursuit of women’s suffrage in Britain. Her story is one of extraordinary courage and a steadfast belief in gender...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 10, 2024 | History
On October 10, 1912, scientists worldwide had a unique opportunity. Albert Einstein, a German physicist, had proposed several hypotheses regarding the Sun’s ability to bend light. A total solar eclipse on that day allowed scientists to measure the bending of...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 9, 2024 | History
On October 9, 1940, as bombs fell over Liverpool during World War II, John Winston Lennon entered the world. His birth foreshadowed a life filled with conflict, creativity, and cultural revolution. By the time he died 40 years later, Lennon had already changed the...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 8, 2024 | History
On the night of October 8, 1871, while the world watched flames consume Chicago, another fire was tearing through northeastern Wisconsin: larger, hotter, deadlier. This was the Peshtigo Fire, and it remains the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history. A Perfect Storm of...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 7, 2024 | History
On October 7, 1919, Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, commonly known as KLM, was founded in the Netherlands. It is the oldest commercial airline still operating under its original name and serves as the national airline of the Netherlands. KLM represents Dutch...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 6, 2024 | History
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated during a military parade in Cairo on October 6, 1981, in front of the entire world. This annual event commemorated Egypt’s crossing of the Suez Canal during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The parade became the setting...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 5, 2024 | History
On October 5, 1930, Britain’s grand experiment in airship innovation, R101, ended in fiery disaster. Just hours into its maiden international voyage, the massive airship crashed near Beauvais, France, killing 48 of the 54 people on board. What was meant to be a...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 4, 2024 | History
On October 4, 1965, Pope Paul VI became the first-ever pope to set foot on American soil. He didn’t just step into the United States; he stepped into the Western Hemisphere, a historic first in the nearly 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church. And he did it all in...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 3, 2024 | History
In 1945, following Germany’s defeat in World War II, the country was left under the control of the Allied Powers. Germany was divided into four zones, each governed by the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France. This division eventually...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 2, 2024 | History
On October 2, 1452, Richard of York, later King Richard III of England, was born in Northamptonshire at Fotheringhay Castle. His life would unfold against the backdrop of the Wars of the Roses, a brutal dynastic conflict between the houses of York and Lancaster that...
by Matilda Cruz | Oct 1, 2024 | History
On October 1, 1979, a 76-year era of American dominance in Central America came to an end with the official abolition of the Panama Canal Zone. This region, which had long been a source of pride, protest, and political contention, was returned to Panama, marking the...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 30, 2024 | History
In 1954, the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education, ruling that segregation in schools was unconstitutional because it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Although this ruling...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 29, 2024 | History
On September 29, 1982, an ordinary bottle of Tylenol Extra-Strength capsules became the weapon in one of the most chilling unsolved crimes in American history. By the end of that day, several people around Chicago were dead, and millions across the country were...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 28, 2024 | History
September 28, 1924, marks the day in history when the world got a little smaller. Four U.S. Army Air Service aviators touched down in Seattle, completing the first flight around the globe. It was a triumph of endurance, ingenuity, and courage that pushed the...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 27, 2024 | History
On this day in 1825, a loud, smoke-belching machine roared to life in northeastern England, changing human mobility forever. George Stephenson’s Locomotion No. 1 made its inaugural public run on the newly constructed Stockton and Darlington Railway. It carried...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 26, 2024 | History
The Cold War was a period of intense tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. Each country was eager to promote its own belief systems and gain political allies, leading to an arms race characterized by advancements in technology and nuclear weapons....
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 25, 2024 | History
On this day in 1970, American television got a little more musical, a little more groovy, and a whole lot more colorful. ABC premiered The Partridge Family, a sitcom that blended pop music, family antics, and teen idol frenzy. Airing in the prized 8:30 p.m. slot after...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 24, 2024 | History
Long before jets and helicopters took over the skies, one man in France dreamed of a flying machine that could fly on its own. That man was Henri Giffard. On September 24, 1852, he flew in the first powered, steerable airship. This wasn’t fantasy. This was a...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 23, 2024 | History
In 1803, the young United States made a significant purchase from France, acquiring over 800,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River. This acquisition nearly doubled the size of the country, much of which remained uncharted territory. President Thomas...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 22, 2024 | History
The Huntington Library in San Marino, California, made a groundbreaking announcement on September 22, 1991. It declared it would provide open access to its complete photographic archive of the Dead Sea Scrolls. This decision broke decades of tight scholarly control...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 21, 2024 | History
September 21, 2004, marked the day in music history when Green Day released their album, American Idiot. Their seventh album represented a bold political statement, serving as a concept album and a career-defining comeback. It also reintroduced the band as one of the...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 20, 2024 | History
On September 20, 1973, more than 90 million people worldwide tuned in to watch one of the most famous tennis matches of all time. Inside the Houston Astrodome, 29-year-old Billie Jean King defeated 55-year-old Bobby Riggs in straight sets, 6–4, 6–3, 6–3, in what...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 19, 2024 | History
During the heightened anxiety and tension of the Cold War nuclear arms race, the United States sought ways to develop and test nuclear weapons while minimizing societal impact. On September 19, 1957, they successfully conducted the Rainier Event, which was the first...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 18, 2024 | History
On September 18, 1837, a small “fancy goods” store opened at 259 Broadway in New York City. Founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young, the shop was backed by a $1,000 loan from Tiffany’s father. It offered a variety of products, including...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 17, 2024 | History
After almost two weeks of intense negotiations at the presidential retreat in Maryland, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed the Camp David Accords on September 17, 1978. This historic agreement...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 16, 2024 | History
On September 16, 1920, a tragic and unsolved crime occurred when a horse-drawn wagon exploded outside a J.P. Morgan & Co. building in New York City. This bombing resulted in the deaths of over 40 people and injured more than 100 others. To this day, the incident...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 15, 2024 | History
The Lehman Brothers, a major global financial firm, filed for bankruptcy on September 15, 2008, triggering the most dramatic collapse of the global economic crisis. The 158-year-old investment bank had weathered wars, depressions, and market cycles, but it could not...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 14, 2024 | History
The Soviet Union’s Luna 2 became the first human-made object to reach another celestial body, crashing into the Moon and marking a pivotal achievement in the space race on September 14, 1959. The Mission Luna 2, sometimes called “Lunik 2,” was launched from the...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 13, 2024 | History
September 13, 1848, marked the day in history when a young railroad foreman named Phineas Gage survived one of the most extraordinary accidents in medical history. While preparing a blasting site for the Rutland & Burlington Railroad near Cavendish, Vermont, an...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 12, 2024 | History
President John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States, known for his leadership during the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement. His wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, was an iconic First Lady, celebrated for her impeccable fashion sense and dedication to...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 11, 2024 | History
On September 11, 1973, Chile’s democracy collapsed in a violent military coup that overthrew President Salvador Allende. Led by General Augusto Pinochet, the coup ended Chile’s long tradition of democratic governance and ushered in 17 years of military dictatorship....
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 10, 2024 | History
On September 10, 2008, the world’s most powerful scientific instrument was activated beneath the Swiss-French border. At 10:28 a.m., scientists at CERN successfully directed the first beam of particles around the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). This 27-kilometer...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 9, 2024 | History
In the mid-19th century, the leaders of the relatively young country of the United States began to focus on growth and expansion. Fueled by the idea of Manifest Destiny—the belief that the United States was divinely ordained to expand—these leaders pushed westward for...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 8, 2024 | History
On September 8, 1966, American television audiences were introduced to a new kind of adventure with the premiere of Star Trek on NBC. Although its original run lasted only three seasons, the show would go on to become one of the most influential and enduring...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 7, 2024 | History
What began as a publicity stunt evolved into a lasting tradition that fused beauty, culture, and spectacle. The inaugural Miss America Pageant took place on September 7, 1921, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. A Tourism Strategy In the early 20th century, Atlantic City...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 6, 2024 | History
Baseball is often referred to as a game of numbers, but some numbers hold a special significance. On September 6, 1995, the number in focus was 2,131. That evening at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles broke Lou Gehrig’s legendary...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 5, 2024 | History
For over a century, fall football games have been a beloved pastime in American culture. One of the most notable players on the field is the quarterback. This player receives the play call, directs the offensive strategy, and advances the ball down the field. It is...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 4, 2024 | History
On September 4, 1951, millions of Americans watched history unfold as President Harry S. Truman delivered a speech in San Francisco that was broadcast live across the entire country. This event marked the first time that television connected both coasts in real time,...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 3, 2024 | History
On September 3, 1967, Sweden underwent one of the most significant traffic changes in history. This day is known as Dagen H, or “H Day,” where “H” stands for Högertrafik, meaning right-hand traffic. The switch from driving on the left-hand side...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 2, 2024 | History
Many people believe that World War II officially ended with Germany’s surrender in May 1945. However, for Japan, the conflict continued for several months after Germany’s unconditional surrender. It is important to recognize that the war with Japan was a...
by Matilda Cruz | Sep 1, 2024 | History
On the morning of September 1, 1985, the world’s most famous shipwreck was finally discovered. Seventy-three years after the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic, a joint French-American expedition led by Robert Ballard from the Woods Hole...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 31, 2024 | History
On a dark, quiet morning in Whitechapel, London, the body of Mary Ann “Polly” Nichols was discovered in Buck’s Row on August 31, 1888. Her murder marked the beginning of a terrifying chapter in history—the reign of “Jack the Ripper.” The...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 30, 2024 | History
On a stormy night in 1816, a young woman had a waking dream. In it, a pale scientist knelt beside a man-made creature, willing it to life. That dream would change the course of literature forever. But the woman behind the monster—Mary Shelley—was already living a life...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 29, 2024 | History
In the late 1950s, the music scene in the United States was thriving with the emergence of a new genre: rock and roll. Artists like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry helped popularize this genre, often sending their screaming teenage fans into a frenzy. In 1958, a man...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 28, 2024 | History
On the Thursday morning of August 28, 1845, the very first issue of Scientific American was released in New York City. Although it was just four pages long, it marked the beginning of what would become the oldest continuously published magazine in the United States....
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 27, 2024 | History
The future of broadcasting changed forever on a summer night in 1950. On August 27, the BBC pulled off a feat that seemed almost science fiction at the time. For the first time, live television pictures traveled from continental Europe to British screens. The event...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 26, 2024 | History
Today, we celebrate the birth of a man who played a crucial role in the rise of the Electronic Age. Lee de Forest, a prominent American inventor, was born on August 26, 1873, in a small town in Iowa. He is often referred to as the “Father of the Radio,”...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 25, 2024 | History
Today marks the day a man in a red silk swimsuit made history. Captain Matthew Webb, a 27-year-old merchant navy officer from Shropshire, England, became the first person to swim across the English Channel on August 24, 1875. No wetsuit. No goggles. Just porpoise fat...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 24, 2024 | History
On this day in history, South Florida experienced one of the most devastating wake-up calls in modern weather history. Hurricane Andrew, small in size but monstrous in strength, struck the coast with Category 5 intensity on August 24, 1992. The storm made landfall...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 23, 2024 | History
On August 23, 1856, a groundbreaking scientific discovery was presented to the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Albany, New York—one that was decades ahead of its time. Eunice Newton Foote’s paper, titled “Circumstances Affecting the...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 22, 2024 | History
On August 22, 1902, American history was made when President Theodore Roosevelt became the first sitting president to ride in an automobile publicly. This historic event took place as he drove through the streets of Hartford, Connecticut, as part of his official...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 21, 2024 | History
John Hampson of New Orleans, Louisiana, was granted U.S. Patent No. 2,223 on August 21, 1841, for his innovative improvement to Venetian blinds. This patent represented a significant milestone in the evolution of window treatments, transforming a previously functional...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 21, 2024 | History
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born on August 28, 1749, in Frankfurt, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire. From that day forward, the world had to reckon with his words. Goethe didn’t just write literature; he reshaped it. By the time he died in 1832,...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 20, 2024 | History
In a modest lab in Secunderabad, India, on August 20, 1897, a British doctor named Ronald Ross looked through a microscope and saw history change before his eyes. What He Discovered What he found that day was more than a parasite. He found the missing link between...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 19, 2024 | History
If you’ve ever savored a refreshing root beer soda topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, you have the innovative entrepreneur Frank J. Wisner to thank. On August 19, 1893, Wisner invented the very first “Root Beer Float,” a drink he regarded...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 18, 2024 | History
On August 18, 1926, a modest sheet of pale blue-green lines made history. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t even meant for the public. But it marked the first time a weather map was broadcast by radio from Arlington, Virginia, to the U.S. Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C.....
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 17, 2024 | History
Four days after East German forces first rolled out barbed wire across the heart of Berlin, the reality of division began to solidify. The night of August 13 was swift and shocking: streets were torn up, railway lines were severed, and an entire city was split in two...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 16, 2024 | History
On August 16, 1954, a new magazine was launched. Sports Illustrated wasn’t the first publication to cover sports, but it was the first to do so on a nationwide scale, with an ambitious and polished approach. The Debut Cover The debut cover captured a frozen moment...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 15, 2024 | History
The 1960s in the United States were a turbulent decade characterized by significant political and social unrest. Many citizens voiced their frustrations over the Vietnam War and the violence occurring within the country. Tensions rose due to differing ideologies, and...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 14, 2024 | History
It all began as a dream. On August 14, 1937, that dream became a reality, marked by hard work and over 2,000 miles of connected trails. The Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine, was officially completed. What started as a bold idea to link scenic...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 13, 2024 | History
On this day in history, in 1997, television took a bold turn. South Park premiered on Comedy Central with its first episode, “Cartman Gets an Anal Probe,” on August 3, 1997. The show was crude, loud, and impossible to ignore. Thus, a cultural phenomenon began shaking...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 12, 2024 | History
Today in history, on August 12, 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a law that had a significant impact on American workers. The federal minimum wage increased from 75 cents to $1.00 per hour. While this change may seem small on paper, it was a significant...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 11, 2024 | History
Today in history started on a warm summer day in Newport, Rhode Island. Inside the elegant Atlantic House Hotel, in what was once its dining room, the wheels of a revolution were set in motion—literally. August 11, 1866, marked the day the United States welcomed its...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 10, 2024 | History
It is hard to imagine Chicago, one of the busiest and most populous cities in the United States, ever being anything but what it is today. Chicago is a massive transportation hub, home to a significant metropolitan economy, and an extremely popular destination for...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 9, 2024 | History
August 9, 1974, is a significant date in American political history, marking one of the most dramatic and consequential moments in the nation’s past. On this day, Richard Milhous Nixon became the first sitting president to resign from office. He left the White House...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 8, 2024 | History
August 8, 1890, is a significant date in history as Caroline Harrison, the wife of President Benjamin Harrison, founded the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). This new women’s organization had a clear mission: to honor those who fought in the American...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 7, 2024 | History
August 7, 1927, marked a significant milestone in the history of peace between the United States and Canada, as it celebrated a century of harmonious relations between the two nations. This date also marked the official opening of the Peace Bridge, which spans the...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 6, 2024 | History
August 6, 1809, marks the day that a child was born in the quiet village of Somersby, Lincolnshire, England, who would later become one of the most celebrated poets in British literary history. Alfred Tennyson, who would eventually be known as Alfred, Lord Tennyson,...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 5, 2024 | History
On August 5, 1914, a significant event took place at the intersection of East 105th Street and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. The world’s first electric traffic light was activated, featuring a red light for stop and a green light for go, forever changing the...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 4, 2024 | History
August 4, 1977, is a significant date in history as it marked a transformation in the United States government’s approach to energy. On this day, President Jimmy Carter established the Department of Energy (DOE), a cabinet-level agency created to consolidate the...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 3, 2024 | History
“A Hard Day’s Night” reached the top of the charts in the U.S. five years after its debut on August 3, 1964. This day marked the last time a Beatles single would hold the number one spot while the band was still together. It wasn’t just another chart-topping moment;...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 2, 2024 | History
At dawn on August 2, 1990, the tanks of Saddam Hussein’s army rolled into Kuwait. Within 48 hours, the tiny Gulf nation had fallen. The world would never be the same. Iraq’s dictator, Saddam Hussein, claimed that Kuwait was stealing oil by slant drilling...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 1, 2024 | History
On August 1, 1971, a significant event in music and humanitarianism took place at Madison Square Garden: the Concert for Bangladesh. Indian sitar maestro Ravi Shankar reached out to his friend George Harrison because he was deeply concerned about the humanitarian...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 31, 2024 | History
On July 31, 1875, former President Andrew Johnson passed away at the age of 66. After a long and intensely hot horseback ride to visit his daughter in Elizabethton, Tennessee, he suffered a massive stroke and did not recover. He was buried in his hometown of...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 30, 2024 | History
Following World War II, the world experienced a period marked by significant political tensions and unrest, particularly between the two major Allied powers: the United States and the Soviet Union. These two nations had deep ideological differences that influenced how...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 29, 2024 | History
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is widely regarded as a masterpiece of high fantasy fiction. It has been highly influential in shaping the modern fantasy genre. Author J.R.R. Tolkien dedicated decades to developing every aspect of the universe he created, including...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 28, 2024 | History
In late June of 1914, the archduke and heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist. This event is often regarded as the catalyst for the outbreak of World War I. After the archduke’s death, Austria-Hungary, with...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 27, 2024 | History
After World War II ended, political tensions began to rise, especially between the Soviet Union and the United States. As these two countries managed the withdrawal of Japanese forces from Korea, they agreed to divide the country along the 38th parallel. The Soviet...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 26, 2024 | History
In 1973, President Richard Nixon made significant advancements in equality for individuals with disabilities by signing the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This was the first official law aimed at protecting people with disabilities. While it was an important step towards...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 25, 2024 | History
On July 25, 2000, Concorde airplanes experienced their only fatal tragedy during their 27 years of operation. In the early morning, an Air France Concorde passenger flight departed from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, bound for New York City in the United States....
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 24, 2024 | History
Hiram Bingham, although not a trained explorer, had a deep fascination for the history of ancient civilizations. He dedicated much of his free time to researching ancient cultures, especially the “lost” civilizations of South America. As a professor at Yale, he...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 23, 2024 | History
War significantly impacts many aspects of society, including the financial sector. World War II plunged many countries into financial crises and strained relationships between nations. To address the economic repercussions of the war and to better prepare for the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 22, 2024 | History
Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in Germany was not entirely smooth. He joined the Nazi Party in 1919 and quickly became its leader. However, his failed coup attempt against the Bavarian government in 1923 led to his arrest and subsequent trial for treason. He was...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 21, 2024 | History
Following the 1952 Egyptian Revolution, the country underwent a period of profound political change under the new military regime. One significant development during this time was the construction of a massive dam on the Nile River, known as the Aswan High Dam. This...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 20, 2024 | History
The Arthur Murray Party was a popular American variety show that aired on ABC from 1950 to 1960, debuting on July 20, 1950. Hosted by dancers Arthur and Kathryn Murray, the show served as a commercial for several well-known dance studios. It featured various...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 19, 2024 | History
On July 19, 1909, the Cleveland Naps faced the Boston Red Sox at League Park in Cleveland, Ohio. During the second inning, as the Red Sox were poised to take the lead, Amby McConnell was at bat and hit a line drive. Cleveland’s shortstop, Neal Ball, caught the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 18, 2024 | History
The Romanov family was the second and last dynasty to rule Russia, governing the country for just over 300 years from the 17th century until the early 20th century. Tsar Nicholas II was the last reigning emperor, serving from 1894 to 1917. In 1917, Russia experienced...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 17, 2024 | History
When Germany surrendered to the Allied powers in May 1945, the world found itself in a state of disarray. Europe was left with immense devastation, and a significant shift in global power dynamics was evident. To address the changes in the postwar world, the Allied...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 16, 2024 | History
Born into a family of shipowners and sea captains, Roald Amundsen was destined for exploration. He was born on July 16, 1872, to Jens Amundsen and Hanna Sahlqvist in the town of Borge, Norway, as the fourth and youngest son in the family. His father owned a shipping...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 15, 2024 | History
Die Hard, the iconic action film starring Bruce Willis, premiered in theaters on July 15, 1988. The story follows a New York City police officer who is visiting his estranged family during Christmas. While attending a holiday party for his wife, he becomes embroiled...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 14, 2024 | History
Bastille Day in the year 2000 was unusually exciting, as even the Sun seemed to join in the celebration. On July 14, 2000, satellites detected the beginnings of a disturbance at around 10:00 a.m. This disturbance culminated in an X-class solar flare, the most intense...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 13, 2024 | History
Krispy Kreme is now a global powerhouse known for its doughnuts and coffee, but it began with humble roots in the summer of 1937. The founder, Vernon Rudolph, was a young man with a dream and a top-secret recipe for yeast-raised doughnuts that he acquired from an old...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 12, 2024 | History
In 1945, a former J.C. Penney employee named Sam Walton purchased a “Five and Dime” store branch with an innovative idea for transformation. Walton aimed to revolutionize shopping for consumers and believed he could make a decent profit by doing so. He envisioned a...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 11, 2024 | History
The first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896 in Athens, Greece, establishing many traditions that continue today. However, it was not until 1900, during the Summer Olympic Games held in Paris, France, that women were allowed to compete in sporting events for the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 10, 2024 | History
On July 10, 2000, a tragic event took place in Jesse, a small town in Nigeria. A massive pipeline burst, resulting in an explosion that claimed the lives of nearly 250 people. The blast ignited a fire that spread through the already impoverished and densely populated...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 9, 2024 | History
Although the United States declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776 after the Revolutionary War, tensions between the two nations continued for many years. Great Britain imposed trade restrictions on the United States to limit its ability to trade with...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 8, 2024 | History
It’s difficult to remember the 1990s without recognizing the impact of popular boy bands and girl groups. At the forefront of the pop music phenomenon of the decade was the British girl group known as the Spice Girls. Easily identifiable by their unique...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 7, 2024 | History
The study of the human body is one of the most critical and complex areas of science, encompassing a vast array of data to be researched. For centuries, scientists have sought to understand the intricacies of the human body. In 1990, the U.S. Department of Energy and...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 6, 2024 | History
In the summer of 1885, a 9-year-old boy named Joseph Meister was severely bitten by a rabid dog. As a result of the attack, Joseph sustained life-threatening injuries and faced a significant risk of developing rabies, a disease that offered him almost no chance of...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 5, 2024 | History
A significant advancement in technology occurred on July 5, 1698, when an English inventor filed a patent for a steam-powered engine. Thomas Savery, a military engineer, devoted his free time to conducting experiments and inventing new devices. He is credited with...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 4, 2024 | History
Roald Amundsen, a renowned Norwegian explorer, was born on July 4, 1872. He is celebrated for his polar explorations and is a prominent figure in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Amundsen was the first person to set foot on the South Pole, the first to...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 3, 2024 | History
For centuries, scholars had studied the mysterious drawings of ancient Egypt, trying to decipher their meanings. These markings, known as hieroglyphs, were found throughout the region—on buildings, monuments, and tombs—yet there was no known way to decipher the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 2, 2024 | History
On July 2, 1897, the Italian inventor known as the “Father of the Radio,” Guglielmo Marconi, was granted a patent for his wireless telegraphy system. He received a British patent for “Improvements in Transmitting Electrical Impulses and Signals,”...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 1, 2024 | History
The first-ever Tour de France, a prestigious multi-stage bicycle race, took place on July 1, 1903. Known for being a grueling event, the Tour de France tests riders’ endurance over a course of approximately 2,200 miles featuring challenging and rugged terrain....
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 30, 2024 | History
On June 30, 1908, a mysterious incident known as the “Tunguska Event” took place. In the early hours of the morning, the largest asteroid ever recorded struck a sparsely populated, forested area near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in Russia. The explosion was so...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 29, 2024 | History
On July 29, 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in the case of Furman v. Georgia, which led to a temporary suspension of the death penalty. The Court determined that the death penalty had been applied inconsistently, violating constitutional amendments...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 28, 2024 | History
On June 28, 1914, an Archduke was publicly assassinated, an event widely regarded as the catalyst for World War I. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Sophie, were shot at close range while visiting Sarajevo, the then capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina....
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 27, 2024 | History
The late 1940s were marked by tension, strain, and conflict among the world’s major powers during the period known as the Cold War. This era was characterized by a significant arms race, especially concerning nuclear weapons, leading to a pervasive fear of...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 26, 2024 | History
In April 1945, the United Nations Conference on International Organization took place in San Francisco. This conference brought together representatives from over 50 nations that were united against the Axis powers during World War II. The attendees sought to...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 25, 2024 | History
The Battle of Little Bighorn, commonly known as Custer’s Last Stand, began on June 25, 1876. General Custer, leading the U.S. 7th Cavalry, faced off against the Lakota and Cheyenne Native American tribes in a brutal conflict over land control and escalating...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 24, 2024 | History
After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones of occupation, each controlled by one of the Allied Powers: the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. The western part of Germany was governed by the Western Allies—France, Great Britain,...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 23, 2024 | History
On June 23, 1868, Christopher Latham Sholes, an American inventor, was granted a patent for his version of the typewriter. Although his invention was not the first typewriter—the earliest recorded version dates back to 1712—Sholes’ prototype was the first to...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 22, 2024 | History
On June 22, 1941, Adolf Hitler launched the largest military offensive in history by ordering Nazi Germany to invade the Soviet Union in an attack known as Operation Barbarossa. This invasion involved approximately 4 million Axis troops, including soldiers from...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 21, 2024 | History
After the Revolutionary War ended and the dust settled, it became clear to the thirteen original colonies of the United States that a new framework for government was necessary. During the war, the colonists had established the Articles of Confederation, but it was...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 20, 2024 | History
Shortly after declaring independence from British rule, the United States began to establish its own identity. The Continental Congress recognized the need for a visual representation of the newly formed country to convey an official sense of identity and authority...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 19, 2024 | History
Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated annually on June 19th to honor the official end of slavery in the United States. The name “Juneteenth” is a combination of “June” and “nineteenth,” referring to June 19, 1865, when Union Major General Gordon...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 18, 2024 | History
History was made on June 18, 1983, when Sally Ride became the first American woman to travel to space. Ride served as the mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Challenger. The purpose of this mission was to launch the first data and tracking relay satellite and to...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 17, 2024 | History
On the morning of June 17, 1885, a French steamer arrived at New York Harbor, delivering 214 crates. Inside these crates were the disassembled pieces of the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France celebrating the alliance between France and the United States during the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 16, 2024 | History
The Ford Motor Company has long been recognized as a powerhouse in the automobile industry. The company was officially incorporated on June 16, 1903, when Henry Ford, along with 12 other investors, gathered in Detroit, Michigan, to sign the necessary paperwork. Today,...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 15, 2024 | History
The largest volcanic eruption in the last 100 years, and the second-largest eruption of the 20th century, occurred on June 15, 1991. Mount Pinatubo, a stratovolcano located in the Luzon Volcanic Arc, has been an active volcanic site for over a million years. It has...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 14, 2024 | History
The 13 original colonies of the United States grew increasingly wary of British rule over time. The British government continued to tax the colonists despite their lack of representation in Parliament, which led to a growing sentiment among the colonists that they...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 13, 2024 | History
The U.S. Supreme Court delivered its decision in the case of Miranda v. Arizona on June 13, 1966. This landmark ruling established that all criminal suspects have the right to be informed of their “Miranda Rights” during police interrogations. Miranda...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 12, 2024 | History
In 1896, the Philippines began a revolution against Spanish rule due to widespread dissatisfaction with Spain’s policies and a strong desire for self-governance. This uprising was the culmination of over 300 years of discontent among the Filipino people. On June...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 11, 2024 | History
On June 11, 2001, the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana, executed Timothy McVeigh, the mastermind behind the Oklahoma City bombing. McVeigh was convicted of conspiracy to commit mass destruction, the use of weapons of mass destruction, and first-degree murder...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 10, 2024 | History
There are millions of members in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) today, a community dedicated to helping individuals maintain their sobriety. This organization is often one of the first resources recommended to anyone struggling with addiction and seeking to get sober. But...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 9, 2024 | History
Did you know that June 9th is National Donald Duck Day? Each year, we celebrate this temperamental yet beloved character because he made his debut in the Disney animated short “The Wise Little Hen” on June 9, 1934. Even today, over 90 years later, Donald...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 8, 2024 | History
On June 8, 1949, English author George Orwell published a novel titled Nineteen Eighty-Four. Often referred to simply as 1984, this groundbreaking work serves as a cautionary tale about totalitarian governments and the dangers of excessive government control. Upon its...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 7, 2024 | History
On June 6, 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon, marking the beginning of a conflict that would last several months and become known as the First Lebanon War. At that time, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was active in southern Lebanon, where it had been involved...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 6, 2024 | History
On June 6, 1984, a Russian software engineer named Alexey Pajitnov changed the gaming industry with the release of his game, Tetris. At the time, he was working at the Dorodnitsyn Computing Centre, where he developed the game using an Electronika 60 computer. Tetris...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 5, 2024 | History
On June 5, 1981, the CDC published a report in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), detailing five males who were identified as having a rare lung infection. The men were considered healthy prior to their diagnoses, and two of them died shortly after...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 4, 2024 | History
A significant victory for women’s rights occurred on June 4, 1919, when Congress passed the 19th Amendment, officially granting women the right to vote. Ironically, women had the ability to vote in many of the colonies before the Revolutionary War and the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 3, 2024 | History
During a month-long event known as the Tiananmen Square Protests, thousands of Chinese students and other protesters gathered to demand political reform. They sought an end to political corruption, economic changes, and the lifting of restrictions on fundamental human...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 2, 2024 | History
On June 2, 1953, Elizabeth II was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. In keeping with traditions established over the previous 900 years, the ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey in London. Queen Elizabeth II was only 27 years...
by Matilda Cruz | Jun 1, 2024 | History
After years of advocating for statehood, Kentucky was officially recognized as a state on June 1, 1792. Originally part of Virginia, Kentucky became the 15th state of the United States after submitting its constitution to Congress and receiving approval. Tensions had...
by Matilda Cruz | May 31, 2024 | History
Walt Whitman, often called the Father of Free Verse, was born on May 31, 1819, in Long Island, New York. While many people spend their lives searching for talents or skills that define them, Whitman’s gift for language was evident from an early age. He was the...
by Matilda Cruz | May 30, 2024 | History
On May 30, 1987, Philips introduced a lesser-known piece of musical technology: the Compact Disc Video. This new technology aimed to capitalize on the popularity and convenience of the compact disc by adding video capabilities. The CD Video could hold up to 20 minutes...
by Matilda Cruz | May 29, 2024 | History
On May 29, 1922, the Supreme Court ruled in the Federal Baseball Club vs. National League case that Major League Baseball (MLB) is exempt from antitrust laws, which typically apply to businesses. The Court justified its decision by stating that baseball does not...
by Matilda Cruz | May 28, 2024 | History
On May 28, 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act into law. This act aimed to relocate Native American tribes west of the Mississippi River, making their territory east of the river available for increased white settlement and economic growth....
by Matilda Cruz | May 27, 2024 | History
On May 27, 2006, a devastating earthquake with a maximum magnitude of 6.4 struck the Yogyakarta region of Java, Indonesia. The quake occurred along a fault line in the Sunda Plate, an area known for high seismic activity, and caused widespread damage. Nearly 6,000...
by Matilda Cruz | May 26, 2024 | History
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an endurance-centered car race that takes place annually. It was first held on May 26, 1923, on the public roads of Le Mans, France. This event is one of the three races that make up the Triple Crown of Motorsport, alongside the Monaco Grand...
by Matilda Cruz | May 25, 2024 | History
In the year 1800, Ireland was integrated into the United Kingdom through the Act of Union, which placed full control under the British Parliament in London. This decision left many members of the Irish community, particularly Nationalists and Catholics, feeling...
by Matilda Cruz | May 24, 2024 | History
The iconic Brooklyn Bridge was officially opened to the public in New York on May 24, 1883. While the primary function of the bridge was to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River, it is also regarded as a historic work of art. The opening ceremony...
by Matilda Cruz | May 23, 2024 | History
The psychological horror film masterpiece, The Shining, was released in theaters on May 23, 1980. The movie is based on the hugely popular novel of the same name, written by the legendary Stephen King and published in 1977. The Shining stars Jack Nicholson as Jack...
by Matilda Cruz | May 22, 2024 | History
Tragedy struck on May 22, 2010, when Air India Express flight 812 exploded into flames upon landing at Mangalore International Airport in India. The flight carried 166 people, including 6 crew members and 160 passengers. Unfortunately, all 6 crew members and 152...
by Matilda Cruz | May 21, 2024 | History
Tragedy struck on May 21, 1991, when a 22-year-old woman on a suicide mission detonated a bomb that killed Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India. Gandhi was en route to a campaign rally where he was scheduled to deliver a speech. His path was lined with...
by Matilda Cruz | May 20, 2024 | History
On May 20th, 1900, the second Summer Olympic Games officially opened in Paris, France. Known as the “Games of the Second Olympiad,” this significant event was part of the World’s Fair and featured athletes from 24 different countries. The Games...
by Matilda Cruz | May 19, 2024 | History
Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. He grew to be one of the most influential Black revolutionaries of the Civil Rights Movement. A prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, an organization that sought to blend Islamic traditions with...
by Matilda Cruz | May 18, 2024 | History
In 1993, the Oslo Accords were established to bring peace between Israel and Palestine, two nations that had been in conflict for a long time. The accords outlined steps for both countries to cease hostilities and mutually recognize each other’s right to exist....
by Matilda Cruz | May 17, 2024 | History
On May 17, 2004, Massachusetts became the first state in the United States to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Prior to this landmark decision, all same-sex couples in the country were denied the right to officially marry and access the associated benefits, such as...
by Matilda Cruz | May 16, 2024 | History
In May of 1862, Major General Benjamin F. Butler sent Union soldiers to occupy New Orleans, where they encountered hostility from the local civilians. Both men and women expressed their contempt for the soldiers, resorting to insults and, in some cases, violence. On...
by Matilda Cruz | May 15, 2024 | History
May 15, 1948, marks a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern history, as it was the day when the first Arab-Israeli conflict erupted. The significance of this date is underscored by the events of the previous day, May 14, when Israel, under the leadership of David...
by Matilda Cruz | May 14, 2024 | History
On May 14, 1973, the United States launched Skylab into orbit, marking the beginning of its first space station project. Skylab was designed as a space laboratory where the NASA program hoped to conduct hundreds of experiments and countless hours of observation. They...
by Matilda Cruz | May 13, 2024 | History
Have you ever been outside and found yourself covered in those annoying “fruits” known as burs? If you’ve had this experience, you know how tedious it can be to carefully unhook the burs from your clothing, hair, or shoes. While hunting with his dog in the Alps,...
by Matilda Cruz | May 12, 2024 | History
The world of medicine was illuminated by the birth of Florence Nightingale on May 12, 1820. Nightingale is recognized for her significant contributions to the field of nursing, including the professionalization of the profession and a strong emphasis on caring for...
by Matilda Cruz | May 11, 2024 | History
The city of Constantinople has a long and lasting legacy. Emperor Constantine the Great, ruler of the Roman Empire, founded the city known as New Rome in 324 AD in the region of Byzantium. In 330 AD, he decided to move the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to this...
by Matilda Cruz | May 10, 2024 | History
On May 10, 1924, J. Edgar Hoover officially became the director of the FBI. He held this position for 48 years until his death in 1972. Under Hoover’s leadership, the agency transformed from a small bureau into a powerful organization, serving under eight...
by Matilda Cruz | May 9, 2024 | History
On May 9, 1962, four young musicians from Liverpool entered the EMI studios on Abbey Road and signed their first recording contract with Parlophone Records, a division of EMI. This moment marked the beginning of the Beatles’ legendary journey in music history....
by Matilda Cruz | May 8, 2024 | History
On May 8, 1902, a heart-wrenching tragedy befell the picturesque Caribbean Island of Martinique. The long-dormant Mount Pelée, which had been ominously rumbling for weeks, erupted with a ferocity that defied imagination. A devastating wave of destruction cascaded down...
by Matilda Cruz | May 7, 2024 | History
On May 7, 1945, Germany signed the German Instrument of Surrender, which was an unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces and effectively marked the end of World War II. An unconditional surrender occurs when the defeated party admits defeat without any assurances...
by Matilda Cruz | May 6, 2024 | History
Sigmund Freud, one of the world’s most renowned neurologists, was born on May 6, 1856. He is best known for his theory of psychoanalysis and his research on human personality and behavior. Much of his career was dedicated to exploring the human unconscious mind and...
by Matilda Cruz | May 5, 2024 | History
After Napoleon Bonaparte’s final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, the British government exiled him to St. Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic Ocean. They believed that this location would be too isolated for him to plan any further uprisings and that he...
by Matilda Cruz | May 4, 2024 | History
On May 4, 1970, Kent State University became a terrifying place. The Ohio National Guard opened fire on a gathering of 300 student protesters, resulting in the deaths of four students and injuries to nine others. In just 13 seconds, many lives were changed, and the...
by Matilda Cruz | May 3, 2024 | History
Before May 2, 2000, GPS wasn’t excellent. It wasn’t because of primitive technology, however, it was because the US government artificially limited the accuracy of GPS. They did this for the sake of national security, fearing that enemies could use an...
by Matilda Cruz | May 2, 2024 | History
When Hitler first came to power, his grip on it was pretty insecure. The Nazi party was only one party in the three-party coalition that ruled the government. This meant that they did not have a majority in parliament, making it difficult for them to pass legislation...
by Matilda Cruz | May 1, 2024 | History
At the stroke of midnight on May 1, 1943, a contract that had bound the United Mine Workers of America with America’s coal mining companies expired. In the next minute, a staggering 480,000 coal workers initiated what would become one of the most monumental...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 30, 2024 | History
Today marks the day in history when the Vietnam War reached its conclusion as North Vietnamese troops captured Saigon. April 30, 1975, was the day that ended a prolonged and divisive conflict that had lasted for decades and deeply affected both Vietnam and the United...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 29, 2024 | History
April 29, 2011, marked a day of global significance, a day of pageantry, history, and heartfelt celebration. In a moment witnessed by nearly two billion viewers worldwide, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, exchanged vows at Westminster Abbey, turning...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 28, 2024 | History
On April 28, 1789, a gripping and historic maritime uprising unfolded. Fletcher Christian, a master’s mate turned mutineer, boldly seized control of the British vessel from its captain, Lieutenant William Bligh. This event sparked centuries of fascination, myth,...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 27, 2024 | History
On this day in 1956, the boxing world was shocked when Rocky Marciano, the reigning heavyweight champion, announced his retirement. At just 31 years old, Marciano walked away from the sport with an unblemished record, an unprecedented achievement. This decision took...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 26, 2024 | History
On April 26, 1941, the Chicago Cubs unveiled a surprise at Wrigley Field—a live organist. This unprecedented move marked the first time an organ was played at a Major League Baseball stadium, and it was met with resounding approval from the fans. From classic ballpark...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 25, 2024 | History
Guglielmo Marconi was born on April 25, 1874, in Bologna, Italy. As a self-taught inventor, he would become one of the most significant figures in the history of modern communication. His fascination with the idea of sending messages without wires—a concept many...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 24, 2024 | History
Operation Eagle Claw, a U.S. attempt to free American hostages held in Iran, began with a tragic collision in the Iranian desert on April 24, 1980, and ultimately failed to achieve its goal. Despite the delays and visibility issues caused by a haboob, a powerful...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 23, 2024 | History
On April 23, 1564, in the modest market town of Stratford-upon-Avon, England, William Shakespeare was born, a man who would grow to become the greatest writer in the English language. Though records from the era are scarce, parish registers show his baptism occurred...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 22, 2024 | History
How much would you give up for your country? On April 22, 2004, Pat Tillman, a rising star in the NFL, was killed while serving in Afghanistan. Known for turning down a multimillion-dollar contract to enlist in the military after 9/11, Tillman’s story remains a...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 21, 2024 | History
On April 21, 753 BC, Roman legend tells us that Romulus founded the Eternal City of Rome after a dramatic series involving his twin brother Remus. The tale is of divine destiny, sibling rivalry, and the birth of a civilization that would shape the ancient world and...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 20, 2024 | History
The Ludlow Massacre, which occurred in Ludlow, Colorado, on April 20, 1914, is remembered as one of the deadliest episodes of labor conflict in American history. Men, women and children were killed as guardsmen fought strikers in Ludlow, marking a turning point in...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 19, 2024 | History
At 9:02 a.m. on April 19, 1995, a massive explosion tore through the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. A truck bomb, parked outside by Timothy McVeigh, detonated with devastating force, killing 168 people, including 19 children at a daycare...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 18, 2024 | History
On April 18, 1942, sixteen U.S. bombers took off from an aircraft carrier in the Pacific on a nearly impossible mission. Led by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, these bombers launched the first U.S. air raid on Japan just months after the attack on Pearl Harbor....
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 17, 2024 | History
Game of Thrones made its HBO debut on April 17, 2011, with the premiere episode ‘Winter Is Coming.’ Based on A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, the television series transported audiences into Westeros’s cruel political society centered...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 16, 2024 | History
On the morning of April 16, 2007, students at Virginia Tech entered their classrooms to begin the day, unaware that their campus would soon become the site of the most fatal U.S. school shooting in history. That morning, the West Ambler Johnston dormitory came under...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 15, 2024 | History
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made a historic stride onto Ebbets Field as a Brooklyn Dodger, breaking baseball’s color barrier and challenging racial segregation in professional sports. His debut at first base against the Boston Braves marked a pivotal...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 14, 2024 | History
As intricate as the English language is, there was a time when it was even more perplexing. Before the advent of the dictionary, people from diverse backgrounds struggled to find common ground on simple matters like pronunciation and spelling. Then, on this...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 13, 2024 | History
Virginia’s Piedmont region welcomed one of America’s most intellectually advanced Founding Fathers when Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743. Jefferson’s intellectual journey began at the College of William & Mary, where he embraced the...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 12, 2024 | History
On April 12, 1945, the world lost its most significant leader, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who passed away at the age of 63. His unexpected death in Warm Springs, Georgia, caused profound national mourning and global distress, connecting people across continents in their...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 11, 2024 | History
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968 into law on April 11, 1968. This legislative action played an essential role in developing equal justice throughout America. The legislation was known as the Fair Housing Act and acted as a necessary...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 10, 2024 | History
On April 10, 1998, after decades of conflict and years of delicate negotiation, the Good Friday Agreement (also called the Belfast Agreement) was signed in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This landmark accord brought a profound sense of relief and a new dawn of peace,...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 9, 2024 | History
The Lion King secured its spot as a Broadway milestone through its box office earnings, reaching almost $853 million. The achievement proved how powerful stories combined with creative staging technologies could produce extraordinary theater beyond comparison. To...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 8, 2024 | History
April 8, 1913, marked a landmark moment when China’s first National Assembly opened in Beijing. This legislative body emerged just one year after the Qing Dynasty’s collapse, aiming to establish constitutional governance for the new Republic of China. The...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 7, 2024 | History
On April 7, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower presented the “Domino Theory” to the world during his press conference. The theory stated that when communist control spread from one country, neighboring states would fall into the same pattern, like a row...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 5, 2024 | History
The War of the Pacific, a significant conflict that took place between 1879 and 1884, had lasting effects on South America. Chile, Peru, and Bolivia were engaged in a struggle for control of areas rich in nitrate resources on the Pacific coastline. The war led to...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 4, 2024 | History
On April 4, 1975, a significant date in the history of technology, two childhood friends, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, began a journey that would change the industry. They founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico, starting as a small software company that would...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 3, 2024 | History
April 3, 1995, marked a historic day for the U.S. Supreme Court. While she had already broken barriers as the first female Supreme Court Justice, April 3rd marked the day Justice Sandra Day O’Connor officially became the first woman to preside over the U.S. Supreme...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 2, 2024 | History
Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense, Denmark, on April 2, 1805. Best known for his timeless fairy tales, Andersen’s work has enchanted readers for generations and inspired literature, theater, and film worldwide. Andersen was born into poverty, the son of a...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 1, 2024 | History
April 1, 2001, will forever be remembered in the fight for equal rights. This date marks an essential landmark in the continuous movement toward equal rights. On this date, the Netherlands made history by legalizing same-sex marriage, a significant step toward...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 31, 2024 | History
Following the tragic events of the Great Depression, President Roosevelt founded the Civilian Conservation Corps on March 31, 1933. Its purpose was to reduce unemployment rates and preserve natural resources in America. The CCC’s primary goal was to provide jobs...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 30, 2024 | History
Vincent Van Gogh was born to Dutch parents on March 30, 1853, in the village of Zundert, Netherlands. His life began a journey that would profoundly reshape the art world. Van Gogh symbolized artistic passion and struggle, inspiring generations of artists and art...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 29, 2024 | History
On March 29, 1795, a young Ludwig van Beethoven took the stage for his first public performance in Vienna. Performing at the Burgtheater, he played his Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, a later staple of his early works. His technical brilliance and emotional...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 28, 2024 | History
The Spanish Civil War, one of the most brutal conflicts of the 20th century, officially ended on March 28, 1939, when Francisco Franco’s Nationalist forces captured Madrid. The war had begun in July 1936 as a struggle between the Republican government and...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 27, 2024 | History
On March 27, 1871, the first-ever international rugby union match unfolded. Scotland and England, two nations with a rich sporting heritage, faced off in a historic showdown at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh. This significant event was born from a challenge issued in Bell’s...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 26, 2024 | History
On March 26, 1953, Dr. Jonas Salk publicly introduced the first polio vaccine, marking a monumental step in the fight against one of the most feared diseases of the 20th century. This breakthrough would eventually save millions from paralysis and death. Polio, short...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 25, 2024 | History
On March 25, 1954, the first color television set rolled off RCA’s production line, forever changing how people experienced entertainment. Before this, television was strictly black and white, but color broadcasting opened up a new world of vivid storytelling....
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 24, 2024 | History
On March 24, 1837, Canada made a pivotal stride in the battle for civil rights by granting Black citizens the right to vote. This landmark decision, made during a time of widespread racial discrimination, was a significant achievement. It not only set a precedent for...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 23, 2024 | History
A new American entertainment staple was born when Truth or Consequences launched on radio waves on March 23, 1940. CBS aired a refreshing radio show that ingeniously merged trivia with comedy sketches and light-hearted performance elements. This unique blend created a...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 22, 2024 | History
The United States government, on March 22, 1965, officially declared that military forces deployed tear gas and herbicides as chemical weapons against Vietcong combatants during the Vietnam War. This revelation, a pivotal moment in the conflict, shocked the world and...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 21, 2024 | History
On March 21, 1975, Ethiopia’s long-standing monarchy ended suddenly. The Derg, a military junta that had overthrown Emperor Haile Selassie the previous year, officially abolished the monarchy and declared the country a socialist state. For nearly 3,000 years,...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 20, 2024 | History
On March 20, 1854, a coalition of anti-slavery advocates and politicians, along with activists in Ripon, Wisconsin, came together with a shared determination to form a new political party: the United States Republican Party. Their unity emerged in response to the...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 19, 2024 | History
David Livingstone was born in Scotland on March 19, 1813. He was a missionary, doctor, and explorer renowned for his expeditions across Africa during the 19th century. Livingstone aimed to spread Christianity, combat the slave trade, and map uncharted territories. His...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 18, 2024 | History
On March 18, 1990, two thieves disguised as police officers walked into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and left with 13 priceless artworks worth over $500 million. It remains the biggest unsolved art heist in U.S. history. Despite decades of...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 17, 2024 | History
The Ed Sullivan Show was a watershed moment for the Bee Gees. Their television debut on March 17, 1968, helped capture the American market with their harmonious vocals and saw them shine as one of the entertainment world’s next bright stars. The Bee Gees’...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 16, 2024 | History
James Madison, known as “The Father of the Constitution,” was born on March 16, 1751, in King George County, Virginia. He was the oldest of twelve siblings and was raised by his parents, James Madison Sr. and Nelly Conway Madison. He spent his early years...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 15, 2024 | History
On March 15, 1869, Harry Wright’s squad boldly led the charge in the professionalization of American sports. The Cincinnati Red Stockings, the trailblazing first professional baseball club, revolutionized baseball from a pastime into a lucrative career. In the...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 14, 2024 | History
On March 14, 1885, the iconic ‘The Mikado’, a comic operetta in Titipu, debuted at London’s Savoy Theatre, marking another triumph for the legendary W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan duo. The title refers to the Emperor of Japan, and the operetta uses...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 13, 2024 | History
On March 13, 1930, astronomer Clyde Tombaugh made a groundbreaking discovery at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona: the tiny icy dwarf planet Pluto. Once considered the ninth planet, Pluto captured the imagination of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike....
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 12, 2024 | History
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization marked a significant milestone on March 12, 1999, as it welcomed three new member states. This pivotal alliance expansion played a unique security role and demonstrated a profound commitment to democracy, stability, and joint...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 11, 2024 | History
March 11, 1918, was a pivotal moment in the history of professional hockey. The National Hockey League (NHL) hosted its inaugural championship game, a landmark event that reshaped the sport. On this historic night, the Toronto Hockey Club emerged victorious, defeating...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 10, 2024 | History
On March 10, 1862, the United States government made a momentous leap into modern finance. It introduced paper money for the first time, in the form of $5, $10, and $20 bills. These were United States Notes or Legal Tender Notes, representing a radical departure from...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 9, 2024 | History
Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin was born on March 9, 1934, to Anna Timofeyevna and Alexei Ivanovich Gagarin in Klushino, a small village in western Russia. He grew up on a collective farm. Yuri became fascinated with aviation after seeing a Yak fighter plane unexpectedly...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 8, 2024 | History
On March 8, 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in McCollum v. Board of Education declared that state-sponsored religious education in public schools violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, reinforcing that church and state should be...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 7, 2024 | History
On March 7, 2009, a 17-year-old Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior stepped onto the pitch for the first time as a professional footballer. Playing for Santos FC, his debut against Oeste in the Campeonato Paulista marked the beginning of a career that would take him to the...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 6, 2024 | History
On March 6, 1981, Walter Cronkite, the legendary anchor of CBS Evening News, delivered his final broadcast. After nearly two decades at the helm, the man known as “the most trusted man in America” signed off with his famous farewell: “And that’s the way it is,” A...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 6, 2024 | History
On April 6, 1917, the United States joined World War I after repeated German aggression, shifting the course of the war and increasing American influence in global affairs. This decision transformed the war’s direction and America’s impact on international...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 5, 2024 | History
On March 5, 1853, a German immigrant named Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg—later known as Henry E. Steinway—founded Steinway & Sons in Manhattan, New York. His goal, though ambitious, was elegantly simple: to craft the finest piano imaginable. What began as a modest...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 4, 2024 | History
Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration on March 4, 1861, was a pivotal moment in American history, marking the beginning of a turbulent chapter. As the 16th president, Lincoln inherited a nation on the brink of division. His election sparked the secession of seven...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 3, 2024 | History
Gandhi’s commitment to democratic actions and non-violent protests strengthened when he initiated his fasting protest against India’s dictatorial government on March 3, 1939. During the late 1930s, while British India was directly governed by the British,...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 2, 2024 | History
On March 2, 1956, Morocco marked a significant turning point in its history by officially ending 44 years of colonial French rule with the signing of the French-Moroccan Agreement. This momentous agreement signified Morocco’s long-awaited independence and paved...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 1, 2024 | History
On March 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy took a significant step in shaping American foreign policy by founding the Peace Corps. This initiative, a cornerstone of U.S. efforts during the Cold War, sent American volunteers abroad to assist with education,...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 28, 2024 | History
On February 28, 1947, a tragic chapter in Taiwanese history began with the outbreak of violence known as the 228 Massacre. This somber event, which erupted amid mounting tensions between local citizens and ruling authorities, not only led to significant loss of life...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 27, 2024 | History
On February 27, 1693, The Ladies’ Mercury made history as the first English periodical dedicated entirely to women. Published in London by the Athenian Society, this short-lived but groundbreaking publication signaled the rising influence of women as a distinct...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 26, 2024 | History
On February 26, 1846, Isaac and Mary Ann Cody gave birth to William Frederick Cody near Le Claire, Iowa. Cody transformed himself from a scout and soldier to a famous icon of the American frontier. He got the nickname ‘Buffalo Bill’ after hunting buffalo...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 25, 2024 | History
On this day in 1910, the 13th Dalai Lama boldly fled Tibet, seeking refuge in British India as Chinese forces occupied Lhasa. This event marked a crucial turning point in Tibet’s struggle against foreign control and significantly shaped its modern political landscape....
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 24, 2024 | History
After nearly fifty years at the forefront of Cuba’s political landscape, Fidel Castro officially announced his resignation as president on February 24, 2008. This pivotal moment marked the conclusion of an era that profoundly influenced Cuban history, beginning...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 23, 2024 | History
Trainspotting, which premiered on February 23, 1996, was a revolutionary moment in British cinema. Danny Boyle’s adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s novel, which explored the lives of Edinburgh heroin addicts, transcended conventional storylines. It courageously...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 22, 2024 | History
On February 22, 1732, Augustine and Mary Washington welcomed George Washington into the world in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His birth marked the beginning of a remarkable journey that would shape his life and the destiny of an entire nation. Washington’s...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 21, 2024 | History
On February 21, 1965, the world lost Malcolm X, a fearless leader in the fight for civil rights and racial equality. He was tragically assassinated while addressing an audience at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. His powerful words and unwavering dedication to...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 20, 2024 | History
On February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first American astronaut to orbit Earth. This remarkable achievement was significant during the early Space Race when the United States and the Soviet Union competed to explore space. The Significance of the Mission John...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 19, 2024 | History
The US 5th Fleet executed an amphibious assault on Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945, during what became one of World War II’s Pacific theater’s most brutal battles. Under General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, Japanese forces heavily fortified the volcanic island, a...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 18, 2024 | History
Charleston, South Carolina, played a pivotal role in American cultural history when it hosted the debut of America’s first opera, Flora, on February 18, 1735. This event brought European opera to the American colonies and launched a rich musical tradition in...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 17, 2024 | History
On February 17, 1972, the British Parliament made a historic decision, approving the United Kingdom’s membership in European Communities to advance European integration. This momentous vote marked a significant shift in the UK’s relationship with Europe...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 16, 2024 | History
On February 16, 1935, Salvatore Phillip “Sonny” Bono was born in Detroit, Michigan. Bono has worn many hats throughout his life—he was a singer, songwriter, actor, and politician. From his rise to stardom as one half of the musical duo Sonny & Cher to...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 15, 2024 | History
This day in history marks the birth of Susan Brownell Anthony in the quaint town of Adams, Massachusetts. She was born on February 15, 1820, and raised in a Quaker household throughout her childhood. Anthony grew up with the principle that all individuals are created...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 14, 2024 | History
On February 14, 2005, three former PayPal employees—Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim—founded YouTube, marking the beginning of a platform that changed how the world shared online videos. The concept for YouTube was born from the founders’ visionary...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 13, 2024 | History
Grant DeVolson Wood was born on a farm near Anamosa, Iowa, on February 13, 1891. He would become a leading figure in the Regionalist art movement, which captured the essence of rural American life in the early 20th century. After the loss of his father in 1901,...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 12, 2024 | History
Today in history, on February 12, 1924, a groundbreaking event took place at Aeolian Hall in New York City. The jazz composition ‘Rhapsody in Blue ‘, a unique blend of solo piano and jazz band, premiered with the talented George Gershwin himself on the...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 11, 2024 | History
Today in history, on February 11, 1990, a momentous event occurred. Anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, after serving 27 years in prison, was finally released. This day was not just a day of celebration but a day that marked the end of apartheid. Four years later,...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 10, 2024 | History
On February 10, 1942, a momentous event unfolded in the music industry. Glenn Miller’s hit song Chattanooga Choo Choo, a tune that would forever change the landscape of music, became the first record to sell over one million copies. This unprecedented...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 9, 2024 | History
On February 9, 1964, The Beatles made their groundbreaking debut on American television by performing on The Ed Sullivan Show. This memorable appearance introduced the British band to a large U.S. audience and sparked the phenomenon known as Beatlemania, which spread...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 8, 2024 | History
On February 8, 1931, James Dean was born. He was destined to become a Hollywood legend. His story, though brief, still captivates us today, many decades after his death. This enduring fascination is rather amazing, considering he had one of the shortest careers in...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 7, 2024 | History
On February 7, 1985, the vibrant, iconic song “New York, New York” achieved official anthem status for New York City. Sung famously by Frank Sinatra, the tune encapsulates the city’s ambition, resilience, and larger-than-life spirit. The song...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 6, 2024 | History
Tampico, Illinois, is a quiet and unassuming town that welcomed a future American icon. Ronald Reagan was born there on February 6, 1911. His journey would eventually take him from the silver screen to the highest office in the nation. It was a fascinating...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 5, 2024 | History
On February 5, 1972, Bob Douglas became the first African American to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This event marked a turning point in the Hall’s history and highlighted the significant contributions of Black athletes to...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 4, 2024 | History
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was born in Detroit, Michigan, on February 4, 1902. Throughout his life, Lindbergh became a global icon and was celebrated for his groundbreaking achievements in aviation. His daring transatlantic flight and complex legacy have left a...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 3, 2024 | History
February 3, 1894, marks a significant date in New York City history, as it is the birthday of Norman Rockwell, a pivotal figure in American art. Rockwell is celebrated for his ability to capture the essence of everyday life, making him one of America’s most beloved...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 2, 2024 | History
On February 2, 1882, poet James Joyce was born in Dublin, Ireland. He was the oldest of ten children. His father was a talented singer but struggled with alcoholism and made poor financial decisions, resulting in the family experiencing cycles of poverty throughout...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 1, 2024 | History
The world was shocked when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere on February 1, 2003. This tragedy resulted in the loss of seven astronauts and had a profound impact on the future of space exploration. The Mission: STS-107...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 31, 2024 | History
On January 31, 1919, a future legend and trailblazer was born in Cairo, Georgia. Jackie Robinson, who would grow up to redefine baseball and the course of history, arrived in a world where opportunities for African Americans were severely limited. Despite the odds, he...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 30, 2024 | History
On January 30, 1948, 78-year-old Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, just a year after he achieved his lifelong goal of winning independence for India. Before 1947, India was part of the British Empire and had seen many unsuccessful attempts to end British rule. Gandhi...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 29, 2024 | History
On January 29, 1919, the United States made a momentous decision by ratifying the Eighteenth Amendment, a pivotal event that heralded the era of Prohibition. This constitutional amendment, which you may have encountered in your studies, effectively banned the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 28, 2024 | History
On January 28, 1935, Iceland made a significant stride by enacting legislation that allowed therapeutic abortions under specific conditions. This move positioned Iceland as one of the earliest Western nations to do so, setting a precedent for others to follow. ...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 27, 2024 | History
January 27, 1973, marks the day the Paris Peace Accords were officially signed. This agreement involved the United States, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the Viet Cong, and it was titled the “Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam.”...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 26, 2024 | History
Douglas MacArthur, born on January 26, 1880, in Little Rock, Arkansas, became one of America’s most distinguished military leaders. His father, Arthur MacArthur Jr., was a decorated Army officer and Union hero of the Civil War, a significant event in American...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 25, 2024 | History
On January 25, 1924, the charming town of Chamonix, nestled in the French Alps, welcomed the world to the inaugural Winter Olympic Games. This momentous event was a significant milestone in sports history, representing the first time athletes from across the globe...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 24, 2024 | History
Winston Churchill died at his home in London on January 24, 1963. Although his life was rich and eventful, he is most famous for his role as British prime minister during the Second World War, during which he guided not only the British but also all the Allied forces...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 23, 2024 | History
Charles Curtis, a member of the Kaw Nation, was the first Native American to serve in the United States Senate, beginning his term on January 23, 1907. His political journey and achievements are powerful symbols of perseverance and representation in American politics....
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 22, 2024 | History
The National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP) was established on January 22, 1857. It served as baseball’s first organized governing body, laying the groundwork for the modern sport and influencing its rules, culture, and professionalism. The NABBP...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 21, 2024 | History
On January 21, 1954, the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) was the first nuclear-powered submarine. Launched in Groton, Connecticut, this technological marvel forever changed naval warfare and marked a milestone in human engineering. A New Era in Naval Technology The USS...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 20, 2024 | History
On January 20, 1980, President Jimmy Carter decided that the United States would boycott the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The bold move came in response to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, a critical Cold War flashpoint. Carter’s boycott rallied over...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 19, 2024 | History
January 19, 1883, a significant date in history, marks the day when Thomas Edison launched the first electric lighting system using overhead wire. This groundbreaking moment took place in Roselle, New Jersey and marked a pivotal transformation in the electrification...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 18, 2024 | History
Daniel Webster was born on January 18, 1782, in Salisbury, New Hampshire. Throughout his remarkable life, he became one of the most influential figures in American history. Renowned for his mastery of language and unwavering defense of the Constitution,...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 17, 2024 | History
Operation Desert Storm began on January 17, 1991, marking the start of the combat phase of the Gulf War. The United States led a coalition of 35 nations in this military campaign aimed at liberating Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. Utilizing precision airstrikes and...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 16, 2024 | History
On January 16, 1920, the League of Nations assembled for the first time in Paris, marking a pivotal moment in international relations. This ambitious organization aimed to maintain peace and foster cooperation in a post-World War I world. Though it faced challenges,...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 15, 2024 | History
January 15, 2009, marked the day dubbed “Miracle on the Hudson.” What could have been a horrible tragedy turned into a display of skill, courage, and teamwork when US Airways Flight 1549 landed on the Hudson River. Flight 1549, an Airbus A320, departed from New York’s...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 14, 2024 | History
On this day in 1741, Benedict Arnold, a man of both valor and infamy, was born. He was first known as a heroic general in the American Revolutionary War, and his early heroism earned him admiration. However, Arnold later shocked the young nation by betraying it,...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 13, 2024 | Uncategorized
Sarah Caldwell shattered a centuries-old barrier by becoming the first woman to conduct at the iconic Metropolitan Opera House in New York City on January 13, 1976. Her performance of Verdi’s La Traviata was not only a musical triumph but a resounding victory...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 12, 2024 | History
On January 12, 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo was named FIFA World Player of the Year at the age of 23. His exceptional performances for Manchester United in the 2007-2008 season, marked by dazzling footwork and record-breaking goals, earned him this prestigious honor....
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 11, 2024 | History
A pivotal medical history event unfolded at Toronto General Hospital on January 11, 1922. A 14-year-old boy, Leonard Thompson, who had severe diabetes, became the first ever human to receive an insulin injection. This groundbreaking treatment transformed diabetes from...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 10, 2024 | History
On January 10, 1999, TV audiences met Tony Soprano, a New Jersey mob boss juggling family life and organized crime for the first time. This debut episode, aptly titled “The Sopranos,” marked the beginning of a new era for television dramas. Tony Soprano,...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 9, 2024 | History
Richard Milhous Nixon, the second of five sons, was born in Yorba Linda, California, on January 9, 1913. He grew up in a small, hardworking family that operated a modest lemon ranch. Financial struggles, tragedy, and an unrelenting drive for success defined his early...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 8, 2024 | History
Today in history, on January 8, 1790, President George Washington broke new ground by delivering the first State of the Union Address. He presented it to a joint session of Congress at Federal Hall in New York City, the temporary capital of the United States. The new...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 7, 2024 | History
On January 7, 1999, the United States Senate met to conduct a presidential impeachment trial for the first time in 130 years. The proceedings focused on Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, marking only the second time in U.S. history that a...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 6, 2024 | History
On January 6, 1975, NBC premiered “Wheel of Fortune,” a game show created by Merv Griffin that would go on to become one of the longest-running and most beloved programs in television history. The show captivated audiences with its unique combination of...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 5, 2024 | History
On January 5, 1949, U.S. President Harry S. Truman gave his State of the Union address and coined the term “Fair Deal” to describe his ambitious domestic policy agenda. This moment marked a continuation and expansion of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s iconic...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 4, 2024 | History
On January 4, 2007, Nancy Pelosi made history by becoming the first woman to serve as the U.S. House of Representatives Speaker. This significant achievement marked a key milestone in American political history, breaking a 218-year barrier since the House first...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 3, 2024 | History
On January 3, 1987, Aretha Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, breaking barriers in a male-dominated music industry. With her powerful voice and legendary career, Franklin’s induction honored her immense contributions to...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 2, 2024 | History
On January 2, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy announced his candidacy for the presidency with the goal of bringing fresh leadership and a new vision to the United States. At just 42 years old, JFK’s announcement marked the start of a transformative campaign that...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 1, 2024 | History
Kick off a historical moment! On New Year’s Day, 1902, the very first Rose Bowl game was played in Pasadena, California, as part of the Tournament of Roses festivities. This landmark event launched a beloved tradition, uniting sports fans every year. Organized...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 31, 2023 | History
Today in history, on December 31, 1862, the new state of West Virginia joined the Union. After much deliberation and a split decision from his cabinet, President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill granting West Virginia statehood. Years of conflict between...
by Matilda Cruz | Dec 30, 2023 | History
The Russian Revolution, which began five years earlier in 1917, culminated in the formation of the Soviet Union on December 30, 1922. This event would reshape the politics of the twentieth century. The Russian Empire was doing poorly in the early 1900s. Widespread...
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
Lessons From the Great Depression 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...
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 Matilda Cruz | Apr 30, 2023 | History
In the final days of his life, Roman Emperor Galerius made a decision that would echo through history. On April 30, 311, from his deathbed, he issued the Edict of Toleration—officially halting the brutal persecution of Christians in the Eastern Roman Empire. For...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 29, 2023 | History
The gates of Dachau opened wide on April 29, 1945, not to welcome, but to reveal freedom. On that day, soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 45th Infantry Division arrived at the Nazi concentration camp located just northwest of Munich. What they discovered was unimaginable....
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 28, 2023 | History
Some heroes wear capes. Shrek the Sheep wore 60 pounds of wool. On April 28, 2004, New Zealanders tuned in to watch a national spectacle: the shearing of a runaway Merino sheep who had dodged the clippers for six long years. His name was Shrek—a nod to the famous...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 27, 2023 | History
Just days after the Civil War ended, tragedy struck on the Mississippi River. On April 27, 1865, the SS Sultana, an overcrowded steamboat carrying recently released Union prisoners of war, exploded near Memphis, Tennessee. The result was the deadliest maritime...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 26, 2023 | History
In the early morning hours of April 26, 1986, the quiet town of Pripyat in Soviet Ukraine was shaken by a disaster that would reverberate across the globe. During a late-night safety test at Reactor No. 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, a sudden power surge...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 25, 2023 | History
Claustrophobic chaps had a reason to be in awe on this day in 1960, the USS Triton made history beneath the ocean’s surface. In a groundbreaking mission called Operation Sandblast, the nuclear-powered submarine completed the first fully submerged...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 24, 2023 | History
On April 24, 1503, a pivotal moment in Michelangelo’s career occurred. The cathedral authorities entrusted him with a momentous task: to create twelve apostle statues of marble for installation at the Florence Cathedral. This commission, which would...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 23, 2023 | History
On April 23, 1928, Shirley Temple Black entered the world in Santa Monica, California, destined to become the most famous child performer in Hollywood history. From her first film role at age three to becoming America’s top box office draw by six,...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 22, 2023 | History
On April 22, 1994, the Danish candy company BonBon created the world’s largest lollipop, weighing over 3,000 pounds. It was first unveiled at Holmegaard, Denmark’s BonBon Land theme park, and was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the most...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 21, 2023 | History
On April 21, 1918, Captain Manfred von Richthofen, the legendary “Red Baron,” took off on his last mission. Leading his “Flying Circus” near the Somme River in France, the German ace engaged Allied aircraft at low altitude. Despite his famous...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 20, 2023 | History
On April 20, 1290, a grand event inspired by King Arthur’s court was held, a Round Table Tournament organized by King Edward I to celebrate his daughter’s engagement. The Winchester Round Table exists today at Winchester Cathedral because it became...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 19, 2023 | History
Did you know that the concept of a five-day work week was once seen as radical? On April 19, 1932, Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, proposed a shorter work week to solve rising unemployment during the Great Depression. He believed that by...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 18, 2023 | History
In the early hours of April 18, 1775, the brave Paul Revere embarked on a daring journey from Charlestown to Lexington. His mission, a testament to his courage, was crystal clear: to alert colonial leaders of the advancing British troops. As he thundered through the...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 17, 2023 | History
Before dawn on April 17, 1961, a courageous force of 1,400 Cuban exiles, known as Brigade 2506, trained and armed by the CIA, landed at Cuba’s Bahía de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs). Their mission, to overthrow Fidel Castro’s communist regime, was a bold and...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 16, 2023 | History
On April 16, 1457 BCE, the Canaanite coalition led by the King of Kadesh lost a decisive battle against Pharaoh Thutmose III at Megiddo. This ancient engagement is detailed in historical records, thanks to the diligent work of Tjaneni, who served as Thutmose’s...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 15, 2023 | History
On April 15, 1955, Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald’s restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, a moment that would reshape the fast-food industry. With his visionary approach, Kroc transformed the McDonald’s concept developed by Dick and Mac McDonald in San...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 14, 2023 | History
A devastating environmental disaster affected the Great Plains on April 14, 1935, becoming one of the U.S.’s most tragic historical events. The mighty Black Sunday storm swept through Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Colorado with 300 million tons of topsoil. The...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 13, 2023 | History
Just two days into NASA’s Apollo 13 mission, on April 13, 1970, a routine stirring of an oxygen tank aboard the spacecraft triggered a massive explosion. This explosion tore through the service module and severely compromised the ship’s ability to produce power and...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 12, 2023 | History
The groundbreaking OncoMouse, the first genetically modified animal to be patented, received U.S. Patent 4,736,866 on April 12, 1988. The presence of an active cancer gene in these animals made them highly susceptible to developing cancer. This characteristic...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 11, 2023 | History
On April 11, 2013, a team of paleontologists in China’s Guangdong Province unveiled a discovery that could only be described as extraordinary—a nest of fossilized dinosaur eggs housing exquisitely preserved embryos. These specimens, dating back 70 million years...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 10, 2023 | History
Mount Tambora, situated on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, unleashed the most colossal eruption in recorded history on April 10, 1815. This awe-inspiring event claimed the lives of over 71,000 people and set off a global climate disaster—the infamous “Year Without a...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 9, 2023 | History
In the aftermath of the Civil War, the United States was at a critical juncture in its quest for racial equality. A pivotal moment in this struggle came on April 9, 1866, when Congress, in a historic move, overrode President Andrew Johnson’s veto to enact the...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 8, 2023 | History
On April 8, 1983, a moment of pure astonishment unfolded as David Copperfield, the master of magic, performed a feat that would etch itself into the annals of history. The 305-foot statue, a symbol of freedom, vanished into the night sky, a spectacle witnessed by...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 7, 2023 | History
April 7, 1948, marks the day in history when the World Health Organization (WHO) became official. We celebrate this date annually as World Health Day, a testament to the organization’s enduring commitment to global public health. This commitment has been...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 6, 2023 | History
On April 6, 1772, Catherine the Great made a significant stride in Russian history by abolishing the beard levy, a tax first introduced by Tsar Peter the Great in 1698. This tax was a part of Peter’s ambitious plan to modernize Russian society and align it with...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 5, 2023 | History
On April 5, 1923, the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company introduced balloon tires, a new and improved form of inflatable tire that handled better and was much more economical than existing models, revolutionizing the automotive industry. Many cars and trucks of...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 4, 2023 | History
The World Trade Center (WTC) was officially inaugurated in New York City on April 4, 1973, marking the completion of the Twin Towers. These 110-story towers were not just the tallest buildings in the world at the time but also introduced a unique tube-frame design,...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 3, 2023 | History
On April 3, 1882, Jesse James, one of America’s most notorious outlaws, was shot and killed by Robert Ford, a member of his own gang. This act of betrayal marked the end of the legendary James-Younger Gang, which had terrorized the American frontier with its...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 2, 2023 | History
On April 2, 1836, Charles Dickens, one of the most celebrated writers of the Victorian era, married Catherine Thomson Hogarth at St. Luke’s Church in Chelsea, London. Their marriage began a life filled with literary success, travel, and personal challenges. Dickens...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 1, 2023 | History
April 1, 1992, marked a pivotal moment in hockey history as NHL players united to defend their rights and fair treatment. This strike, the first since 1917, was a watershed event that would redefine the league for generations to come. The players’ bold action...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 31, 2023 | History
Just one day after the 15th Amendment was adopted, on March 31, 1870, Thomas Mundy Peterson made history as the first African American to cast a ballot in a US election. This marked a turning point for Black Americans in the struggle for equality. Thomas Mundy...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 30, 2023 | History
What started as a simple act of generosity became one of history’s most famous lottery wins. On the evening of March 30, 1984, NYPD officer Robert Cunningham enjoyed a meal at his favorite pizzeria, Sal’s, located in the bustling neighborhood of Yonkers,...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 29, 2023 | History
On March 29, 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union. Their case, one of the most controversial of the Cold War, led to their execution in 1953, making them the first American civilians to be put to death...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 28, 2023 | History
On March 28, 1935, Triumph of the Will, one of the most infamous propaganda films in history, was released in Nazi Germany. Directed by Leni Riefenstahl, the film documented the 1934 Nuremberg rallies, portraying Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in a glorified light....
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 27, 2023 | History
On March 27, 1977, a heart-wrenching aviation tragedy unfolded at Los Rodeos Airport, now known as Tenerife North Airport, in Spain’s Canary Islands. A collision between two Boeing 747 aircraft on the runway led to the devastating loss of 583 lives, marking it...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 26, 2023 | History
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Caracas, Venezuela, on March 26, 1812, leaving 90% of the city in ruins and killing an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people. This horrific event, which occurred on Maundy Thursday, was one of the deadliest earthquakes in South American...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 25, 2023 | History
On March 25, 1898, William Sydney Porter—better known as O. Henry—was sentenced to five years in prison for embezzling $854 from a bank in Austin, Texas. Reports suggest he may have taken the money to pay for his wife’s medical bills. Rather than face immediate...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 24, 2023 | History
Imagine a time when a tuberculosis diagnosis was akin to a death sentence. This grim reality was forever altered on March 24, 1882, when German scientist Robert Koch made a groundbreaking discovery. He identified Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the cause of...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 23, 2023 | History
The White House ushered in a new era of modernity when it installed its first presidential desk telephone on March 23, 1929. This was a monumental moment, as it was the first time a sitting president had immediate desk access to a phone, a clear reflection of the...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 22, 2023 | History
On March 22, 1903, a truly awe-inspiring event unfolded when Niagara Falls, a symbol of nature’s power, temporarily ceased to flow. For 30 hours, the majestic waterfall transformed into a gentle stream, unveiling the rocky cliffs and riverbeds beneath its...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 21, 2023 | History
On March 21, 1891, a momentous event marked the end of one of America’s most notorious family feuds. A Hatfield and a McCoy, two names synonymous with violence and bloodshed for nearly three decades, married, bringing a glimmer of hope and a new beginning along the...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 20, 2023 | History
On March 20, 2016, President Barack Obama made history by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to visit Cuba since Calvin Coolidge in 1928. His visit was a significant step towards restoring diplomatic relations after decades of Cold War tensions. During his...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 19, 2023 | History
On March 19, 1991, the NFL made a significant decision. League owners voted to strip Phoenix of the 1993 Super Bowl, relocating the game because Arizona refused to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a state holiday. The controversy began when Arizona voters...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 18, 2023 | History
It had been several months in the making as the circus left the big top and assembled inside the newly constructed Madison Square Garden. The Barnum & Bailey Circus was a comeback, as New York City residents clamored for tickets inside the arena. Circuses became...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 17, 2023 | History
Stephen Perry significantly contributed to the rubber industry by inventing vulcanized rubber bands, which were designed to hold envelopes and bundles of paper together. The rubber band was officially patented on March 17th, 1845. This invention served as a precursor...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 16, 2023 | History
Billie Holiday, also known as Lady Day, is an icon of jazz music. However, her life was far more complex than most people realize, though her closest friends understood this truth. Her music reflected her life, expressed through poignant blues ballads that mirrored...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 15, 2023 | History
As part of its ambition for a world empire, Germany invaded Czechoslovakia along with several other countries. However, this conquest was not executed all at once. Instead, Germany systematically undermined the Czechoslovak government, gradually seizing control piece...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 14, 2023 | History
Americans did not pay federal income tax at the turn of the twentieth century. Since the repeal of President Lincoln’s wartime tax in 1872, Americans who lived in urban regions had become used to no federal income tax, especially the tiny percentage of Americans...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 13, 2023 | History
By 1943, the Second World War was not progressing as favorably for the Nazis as they had anticipated. In need of more resources, they expanded their efforts to “Aryanize” Jewish assets, which involved seizing these resources for their own use. On March 13,...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 12, 2023 | History
On March 12, 1894, a momentous event unfolded in the quaint town of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Joseph Biedenharn, a visionary candy store owner, made a daring move. He purchased a substantial amount of Coca-Cola syrup and did something unprecedented—he bottled it for...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 11, 2023 | History
On this day in 1302, a date that has become significant in literary history, the iconic couple Romeo and Juliet, two star-crossed lovers from Shakespeare’s timeless play, exchanged vows. Although their union was destined for tragedy, it remains a poignant and...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 10, 2023 | History
On March 10th, 1988, a sudden and terrifying avalanche almost claimed the life of then-Prince Charles during a ski holiday in the Swiss resort town of Klosters. While thankfully, no one was hurt, it served as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of avalanches and...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 9, 2023 | History
On March 9, 1974, Hiroo Onoda, the last Japanese soldier to surrender after the end of World War II, finally laid down his arms, marking the end of a remarkable 29-year saga. His story highlights the tenacity of the enemy and the challenging times Japan faced in the...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 8, 2023 | History
On this day in 1934, the renowned astronomer Edwin Hubble made a discovery that continues to inspire awe: the existence of galaxies beyond our Milky Way. His groundbreaking research revealed that there are as many galaxies as stars within our galaxy, which transformed...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 7, 2023 | History
On March 7, 1946, a significant event unfolded as the United States military initiated the evacuation of the inhabitants of Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. This relocation was a pivotal step in the commencement of a series of nuclear tests that would...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 6, 2023 | History
On March 6, 2018, a remarkable journey that began 132 years ago culminated in a stunning discovery on a beach in Western Australia-the world’s oldest message in a bottle. The note, concealed within a green beer bottle, was cast into the sea from a German ship named...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 5, 2023 | History
On March 5, 1995, the graves of Russia’s last Tsar, Nicholas II, and his family were discovered in a forest near St. Petersburg, nearly 80 years after their deaths. This discovery was a significant moment for the country, as it provided closure to many...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 4, 2023 | History
On March 4, 1540, one of the most scandalous events in German history occurred when Protestant Count Philip of Hessen married his second wife, Margarethe von der Saale, in a bigamous union. This marriage caused a significant uproar in society and threatened the...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 3, 2023 | History
On March 3, 2013, the world was amazed by a remarkable event in Mississippi – a baby born with HIV was cured through early intervention. This marked the first known case in which an infant had been successfully treated and freed from the virus that causes AIDS. The...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 2, 2023 | History
On March 2, 1904, a literary icon emerged from Springfield, Massachusetts. Theodor Seuss Geisel, widely recognized by his pen name, Dr. Seuss, was born to Henrietta Seuss and Theodor Robert Geisel. Growing up in a vibrant, creative environment, young Theodor displayed...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 1, 2023 | History
On March 1, 1780, the state of Pennsylvania, led by courageous legislators, became the first in the United States to abolish slavery when it passed the Gradual Abolition Act, a law freeing all enslaved people born after that date. This momentous occasion set an...
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 Matilda Cruz | Feb 4, 2023 | History
Today in history, on February 4, 1865, Robert E. Lee was selected as the Confederate forces’ general-in-chief. Debate over the position had been raging since February of 1862. Confederate President Jefferson Davis feared it would give one man too much power...
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 Matilda Cruz | Jan 20, 2023 | History
On January 20, 1942, senior Nazi officials convened at the Wannsee Conference near Berlin. Their purpose? To discuss and coordinate the implementation of the “Final Solution,” the systematic extermination of Europe’s Jewish population. This meeting,...
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 Matilda Cruz | Jan 14, 2023 | History
On this day in 1952, NBC introduced the “Today” show, forever changing the landscape of morning television. As the brainchild of television executive Sylvester Weaver, “Today” was the first program of its genre, blending national news...
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 Matilda Cruz | Jan 2, 2023 | History
On January 2, 1955, NBC launched “The Bob Cummings Show,” affectionately dubbed “Love That Bob.” This delightful sitcom featured the charismatic Bob Cummings in the role of Bob Collins, a suave and mischievous bachelor photographer. The series...
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 Beginnings Following 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...
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...
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
History Repeats Itself: Stop Making These Mistakes 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...
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...
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 Matilda Cruz | Aug 6, 2022 | History
At around 8 a.m. on August 6, 1945, the sky over Hiroshima changed forever. The U.S. bomber Enola Gay dropped a devastating atomic bomb called “Little Boy,” which weighed 9,700 pounds. The bomb detonated 600 meters above the city, creating a fireball with...
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 Matilda Cruz | Aug 4, 2022 | History
Barack Hussein Obama II was born on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii. At that time, no one could have predicted that he would eventually become the 44th President of the United States, as well as the first African American to hold that office. Obama’s roots were...
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 27, 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 | 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, 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...
