by qdmhistory | Jan 8, 2022 | Popular
It is very common for governments to borrow money. After all, governments can run into a wide range of emergencies that become more manageable through more spending. As such, the concept of a national debt isn’t exactly a modern invention. In the case of the...
by qdmhistory | Jan 7, 2022 | Popular
On January 7th, 1714, a patent was filed by Henry Mill, an English inventor who worked as a waterworks engineer for a device “for impressing or transcribing of letters singly or progressively one after another, so neat and exact as not to be distinguished from...
by qdmhistory | Jan 6, 2022 | Popular
The first iteration of what would later become the electric telegraph was created by Samuel Morse in 1838. Shortly after the prototype’s invention, which used only a single wire, Samuel Morse demonstrated the new technology Speedwell Ironworks in Morristown, New...
by qdmhistory | Jan 5, 2022 | Popular
Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Chestnut Barrow, the infamous couple later known simply as Bonnie and Clyde, met for the first time on January 5, 1930. At the time, Bonnie was nineteen years old, and Clyde was twenty. The chance encounter took place, by most...
by qdmhistory | Jan 4, 2022 | Popular
On January 4, 1780, a severe snowstorm bore down on George Washington and his troops at Morristown, New Jersey. Then six years into the Revolutionary War, Morristown was chosen to be the army’s encampment for the winter. The conditions soldiers faced throughout...
by qdmhistory | Jan 3, 2022 | Popular
Greta Thunberg (born January 3, 2003, in Stockholm, Sweden) is a Swedish environmental activist who has fought to combat global warming. She started the Fridays for Future campaign in 2018. (also called School Strike for Climate). Greta was diagnosed with Asperger...
by qdmhistory | Jan 2, 2022 | Popular
On January 2nd, 1947, Mahatma Gandhi began his march for peace in East Bengal, one of his last significant protests before his assassination the following year. Religious intolerance was on the rise across the subcontinent, and Gandhi, dismayed by this, wanted to end...
by qdmhistory | Jan 1, 2022 | Popular
On January 1, 1892, the first day of the new year, Ellis Island opened as a United States immigration inspection station. While preparing to open, three ships had already arrived and were eagerly waiting to dock. Records show an impressive 700 newcomers were processed...
by qdmhistory | Dec 31, 2021 | Popular
On this day in history, a small group of conspirators hatched a plan to assassinate the Roman Emperor Commodus. On Dec 31st, AD 192, the conspirators procured the services of the young wrestler to end the emperor’s life. The wrestler strangled Commodus in his...
by qdmhistory | Dec 30, 2021 | Popular
Grigori Rasputin, also known as the Mad Monk, wasn’t actually a monk but a self-proclaimed holy man who was thought to have mystical healing powers. He became friends with Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra in 1905 and supposedly healed their hemophiliac...
by qdmhistory | Dec 29, 2021 | Popular
On December 29, 1997, Hong Kong began a massive operation, slaughtering 1.2 million chickens to curb the spread of the Bird Flu. The exercise was aimed at eradicating a strange ailment that had killed four people. From commercial flocks to family flocks, farmers...
by qdmhistory | Dec 28, 2021 | Popular
On December 28, 1612, Galileo Galilei, while sketching the moons of Jupiter, drew in his notebook what he believed to be a “fixed star” that he had observed through his primitive telescope near Jupiter. However, due to its distance from the sun and slow...
by qdmhistory | Dec 27, 2021 | Popular
December 27 has some rather significant events attached to it. It was on this day in 1978 that Spain announced to the world it was an official democracy. Charles Darwin set sail on December 27, 1836. Almost a century later, as the U.S. struggled with the results of...
by qdmhistory | Dec 26, 2021 | Popular
A tsunami from the Indian Ocean in 2004 washed up the shores of various nations in South and Southeast Asia. The tsunami and its aftermath caused widespread devastation and loss of life along the Indian Ocean coast. On this day, December 26, 2004, at around 7:59 AM...
by qdmhistory | Dec 25, 2021 | Popular
The Roman church began celebrating Christmas on the 25th of December, 336 AD. The emperor Constantine was in power at that time. Before, Constantine had made Christianity the official and practical religion of his entire empire. According to speculations, Constantine...
by qdmhistory | Dec 24, 2021 | Popular
On this day in 1936, December 24th, the first radioactive isotope was used to treat disease in humans, heralding the birth of much-needed nuclear medicine. Ernest Lawrence was an American physician and physicist who was later awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics for...
by qdmhistory | Dec 23, 2021 | Popular
Van Gogh gave an ear to his lover. It’s a strange tale, but true according to historical accounts… It happened on December 23, 1888, two days before the Christmas holiday. Vincent van Gogh was an exceptionally gifted artist but also odd and often described...
by qdmhistory | Dec 22, 2021 | Popular
On this day, December 22, 1882, an enterprising New Yorker discovered a brilliant use for electric lights and became the first to use them as Christmas tree decorations. Edward H. Johnson, who worked for Thomas Edison’s Illumination Company and subsequently...
by qdmhistory | Dec 21, 2021 | Popular
On December 21st, 1898, the husband and wife duo Marie and Pierre Curie discovered Radium. Their radioactive discovery came after years of tinkering with different crystals and Magnesium. Their discovery would shape the future as we know it today. Pierre met his wife...
by qdmhistory | Dec 20, 2021 | Popular
Two German brothers famously known for their versions of fairy tales, which often featured cruel and dark storylines, released the less known Kinder-und Hausmarche, the German version of Children’s and Household Tales. The two brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm,...
by qdmhistory | Dec 19, 2021 | Popular
Benjamin Franklin used the pen name Richard Saunders to publish Poor Richard’s Almanac. The first edition book was published on December 19th, 1732. An almanac is an annual publication that details important dates and statistics, including astronomical numbers...
by qdmhistory | Dec 18, 2021 | Popular
On December 18, 1957, the United States produced its first nuclear-powered electrical current. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Shipping Port Atomic Power Station was the first power station to use nuclear power for dedicated peacetime use. The SAP...
by qdmhistory | Dec 17, 2021 | Popular
While the 20th century has long been over, what happened over those hundred years won’t soon be forgotten. Mechanical technology was awe-inspiring for many, none more so than the Wright Brothers. The Brothers made a place most grade-school kids know about...
by qdmhistory | Dec 16, 2021 | Popular
The Haiyuan earthquake affected Haiyuan County in the Republic of China’s Ningxia Province on December 16, 1920. At the time of the earthquake, Gansu Province was a part of Ningxia, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the 1920 Gansu earthquake. The 7.8...
by qdmhistory | Dec 15, 2021 | Popular
On December 15, 1612, the German astronomer, Simon Marius, became the first person to observe the Andromeda Galaxy through a telescope. He was able to measure the galaxy’s diameter and said it looked like a candle shining through a horn. Marius, however, was not...
by qdmhistory | Dec 14, 2021 | Popular
On December 14, 1911, Roald Amundsen, one of the greatest figures in polar exploration, became the first person to reach the South Pole. Beating out his British rival Robert Falcon Scott, Amundsen sailed to Antarctica’s Bay of Whales before beginning the...
by qdmhistory | Dec 13, 2021 | Popular
Saddam Hussein was the one-time President of Iraq. On the international stage, he tends to be remembered for a number of incidents. The first is his invasion of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1980 with various forms of support from the United States, the Soviet...
by qdmhistory | Dec 12, 2021 | Popular
Once upon a time, the Romans used a 355-day calendar. As a result, they had to insert an intercalary month between February and March from time to time. The problem was that this insertion was a political process. After all, a longer year meant a longer term for the...
by qdmhistory | Dec 11, 2021 | Popular
King Louis XVI of France might have had good intentions. Unfortunately, he proved incapable of ruling his deeply-indebted country, as shown by his failures in making his much-needed reforms stick. Eventually, Louis XVI was forced to call the Estates-General of 1789,...
by qdmhistory | Dec 10, 2021 | Popular
Units of measurement have been used since time immemorial. However, there were long-standing issues. For starters, it was common for different regions to use different units of measurement, which complicated trade as well as other interactions between them. Even with...
by qdmhistory | Dec 9, 2021 | Popular
On December 9, 1793, American Minerva, believed to be America’s first daily newspaper, was printed by George Bunce & Co. at 37 Wall Street in New York City. This was near the Tontine Coffee House. On this first day of publication, almost the entire front...
by qdmhistory | Dec 8, 2021 | Trending
In 1931, Japan invaded China after local Japanese officers decided to fake a Chinese attack, thus resulting in the creation of the puppet state of Manchukuo. In 1937, Japan invaded even further into China, thus resulting in the Second Sino-Japanese War. The western...
by qdmhistory | Dec 7, 2021 | Popular
Leo Baekeland immigrated to the United States from Europe and began his career as a photographer in New York City. He was also a talented scientist and inventor who invented the first commercially successful photographic paper, Velox, using his invention of...
by qdmhistory | Dec 6, 2021 | Popular
The most substantial scientific evidence of water flowing on the surface of Mars was obtained from pictures of Martian gullies – NASA’s Mars global surveyor. NASA has been deriving images from the planet since 1999. After almost ten years of discovering Mars...
by qdmhistory | Dec 5, 2021 | Popular
On December 5, crowds cheered as the 21st Amendment was ratified. This Amendment repealed the previous prohibition of alcohol in the 18th Amendment. The prohibition barred the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors in order to ensure that there was enough food...
by qdmhistory | Dec 4, 2021 | Popular
A few key figures largely controlled politics in the 19th century. Among them, William Magear Tweed was a well-known politician in his time. He was often called Boss or Boss Tweed, a name derived from his other moniker, William Marcy Tweed. Mr. Boss was the leader of...
by qdmhistory | Dec 3, 2021 | Popular
Aristotle and other ancient Greek scholars suggested that the Earth was round based on different observations. For example, departing ships appear smaller and seem to sink into the horizon, as would be the case when sailing across a round surface like a ball. However,...
by qdmhistory | Dec 2, 2021 | Popular
Radical Abolitionist John Brown hoped to incite a successful slave rebellion to create a free state for African Americans. On October 16, 1859, John Brown headed a minor attack on the U.S. military arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. John Brown witnessed the beating...
by qdmhistory | Dec 1, 2021 | Popular
In contemporary American civil rights history, December 1, 1955, is among the most iconic moments. On this date, a 42-year-old sewist boarded an integrated metro bus in the Alabama state to go back to the house after an exhausting day at the office; she chose an aisle...
by qdmhistory | Nov 30, 2021 | Popular
Oscar Wilde was an Irish intellectual of the 19th century. He died on November 30, 1900, and was never forgotten. He was notable for his works, which remain famous to this day. However, Wilde also tends to be remembered for his criminal conviction for homosexual...
by qdmhistory | Nov 29, 2021 | Popular
Today in history, the Austrian-Irish physicist Erwin Rudolf Schrödinger published his famous thought experiment “Schrödinger’s Cat.” This paradox illustrated the problem of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. Schrödinger’s Cat...
by qdmhistory | Nov 28, 2021 | Popular
On this day in history, the pirate Blackbeard attacked a French merchant slaving ship La Concorde and renamed it the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Blackbeard is the most notorious pirate in history. Throughout the early eighteenth century, he terrorized North American...
by qdmhistory | Nov 27, 2021 | Popular
Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist, inventor, philanthropist, and businessman. He was extremely successful as an inventor, holding 355 patents throughout his lifetime. One of his most famous inventions was dynamite, which was used worldwide for mining and...
by qdmhistory | Nov 26, 2021 | Popular
Labeled the crime of the century, the Brink’s-Mat robbery occurred on November 26, 1983. On that fateful day, six robbers broke into the Brinks-Mat warehouse at the Heathrow International Trading Estate in West London. The six are said to have gained entry to...
by qdmhistory | Nov 25, 2021 | Popular
On this day, November 25, 1867, the House Committee of the Judiciary considered articles of impeachment against President Andrew Johnson. This event was part of a power struggle in the 40th Congress (1867 to 1869) between radical Republicans in the House and President...
by qdmhistory | Nov 24, 2021 | Popular
On November 24, 1974, paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson and his team found the most complete early human skeleton (Lucy, Australopithecus afarensis) ever discovered in history in the Middles Awash of the Afar Depression near Hadar, Ethiopia. This extraordinary...
by qdmhistory | Nov 23, 2021 | Popular
On Saturday 23rd November 2019, at 17:35 local time, Iman, Malaysia’s last female Sumatran rhino, was declared dead. She was the last known specimen of her kind in the Asian country and was 25 years old. Just six months before this tragic incident, the last male...
by qdmhistory | Nov 22, 2021 | Trending
Today, on November 22, 1963, 46-year-old President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas. Kennedy had been planning to tour Texas on November 22 and 23 to gain support for his New Frontier political agenda. He began in Fort Worth, where he...
by qdmhistory | Nov 21, 2021 | Popular
On November 21, 1934, The New York Yankees absorbed a 19-year old Joe DiMaggio from San Francisco for five other players and $50,000. DiMaggio’s Early Start November 21, 1934, The New York Yankees absorbed a 19-year old Joe DiMaggio from San Francisco for five other...
by qdmhistory | Nov 20, 2021 | Popular
On November 20, 1695, the townspeople of Quilombo dos Palmares observed as Portuguese soldiers attached the severed head of Zumbi, the last Warrior king of Palmares, onto a stake right in the middle of the central plaza. Palmares, then a city of runaway slaves, was...
by qdmhistory | Nov 19, 2021 | Popular
November 19, 1863, President Lincoln delivered one of the most iconic speeches during the formal dedication of Gettysburg national cemetery for the fallen soldiers who died in battle. In attendance is Secretary Seward, Hon. Edward Everett, various state governors, and...
by qdmhistory | Nov 18, 2021 | History
You may have heard about the Jonestown murder-suicide of over 900 cult members. But do you know how it started? Let’s take a look at what led to this unfortunate event. Early Church Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana was a religious church based around unorthodox...
by qdmhistory | Nov 17, 2021 | Popular
In the years before the ascension of Elizabeth I, England experienced much political and social change. Elizabeth’s father, King Henry the VIII, caused religious disorder and upset over his marital scandals when he broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and...
by qdmhistory | Nov 16, 2021 | Popular
The hills were alive with The Sound of Music in the Lunt-Fontanne Theater in New York City on this day. That was when Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic Broadway musical opened with Mary Martin playing Maria von Trapp. The show was based on the real-life...
by qdmhistory | Nov 15, 2021 | Popular
King Camp Gillette was a marketing genius. How else can you accurately describe a man who came up with the revolutionary idea of selling one item at a cheap price to catapult the sales of the other? His idea was to sell razors cheaply to increase the popularity and...
by qdmhistory | Nov 14, 2021 | Popular
Twenty-two million tourists flock to Niagara Falls in New York each year. This majestic natural wonder is likely named from the Iroquois word niakare meaning “great noise.” This is a fitting name, considering two trillion liters of water flow through the...
by qdmhistory | Nov 13, 2021 | Popular
The Stamford Bull Run was a bull-running event held every year on St. Brice’s Day (November 13) in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. The Run began during the reign of King John (1199-1266). Festivities began with the ringing of the bells of St. Mary’s...
by qdmhistory | Nov 12, 2021 | Popular
If there was ever a real-life fairy tale, it’s the story of Grace Patricia Kelly. Known simply as Grace Kelly, this iconic American film actress would go on to become the Princess of Monaco. Early Life Grace Kelly was born November 12, 1929, to successful,...
by qdmhistory | Nov 11, 2021 | Popular
November 11, 1918, WWI armistice signed by the Allies and Germany comes into effect and World War I hostilities end at 11 am, “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” The Monday of November 11, 1918, saw an end to months of bloodshed....
by qdmhistory | Nov 10, 2021 | History
November 10, 1969, was a Monday like no other. The kids’ show Sesame Street was set to premiere on PBS TV, and no one was more excited than the kids who would get to watch it. The show was expected to air on the public broadcasting service. A first of its kind,...
by qdmhistory | Nov 9, 2021 | Popular
Born Napoleon di Buonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte fought his way to power on November 9, 1799. The famous Coup 18 Brumaire was his ticket into French leadership. You have probably heard his name mentioned in the realms of French history. As the exceptional military man...
by qdmhistory | Nov 8, 2021 | Popular
On November 8, 1731, Benjamin Franklin opened the first library in the North American colonies. The Library Company of Philadelphia was the first circulating library in America. Before this, most Americans did not have access to books as they were expensive. Only the...
by qdmhistory | Nov 7, 2021 | Popular
On November 7, 1805, Captain William Clark wrote in his notebook about “great joy in camp.” Clark believes the Lewis and Clark Expedition is finally in sight of the Pacific Ocean. Imagine the depth of their joy after so long in the wilderness....
by qdmhistory | Nov 6, 2021 | Popular
We all know of Mahatma Gandhi’s fight for freedom in India. But few of us understand what culminated in this cause. In 1893, a shy Indian lawyer named Mahatma Karamchand Gandhi arrived in Durban, South Africa, to represent Messrs Dada Abdullah’s firm in a...
by qdmhistory | Nov 5, 2021 | Popular
The Gunpowder Plot was a botched attempt to blow up King James I of England and his entire Parliament on November 5, 1605. Guy Fawkes was caught with thirty-six barrels of gunpowder in the cellars beneath Westminster on that fateful midnight of November 4, 1605. He...
by qdmhistory | Nov 4, 2021 | Popular
Howard Carter, a British Egyptologist and his team began excavating the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt, on November 4, 1922. Tutankhamun, alias King Tut, was an Egyptian pharaoh who became ruler at nine years old in 1333 B.C until his death a...
by qdmhistory | Nov 3, 2021 | Popular
George Frideric Handel born in 1685, and he died in 1759. George Frideric Handel was a great German-English composer who became slightly blind in 1751. The eye problem affected his music career negatively. George Frideric Handel found it challenging to finish his...
by qdmhistory | Nov 2, 2021 | History
On November 2, 1937, business magnate, engineer, and record-setting pilot Howard Hughes’s Spruce Goose, or the Hughes H-4 Hercules, took flight. At the time of construction, the Spruce Goose was the largest aircraft that had ever been built and boasted a...
by qdmhistory | Nov 1, 2021 | History
In the 18th century, Lisbon was the flourishing capital of Portugal. Until the fateful day, November 1st, 1755. An earthquake of never before seen magnitude brought the city to its knees. Fifty thousand men and women lost their lives to the quake. After this day,...
by qdmhistory | Oct 31, 2021 | History
In 1503 Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to repaint the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Rome; however, he did not live to see the finished work. On October 31, 1541, Pope Paul III and Emperor Charles V attended a ceremony unveiling Michelangelo’s...
by qdmhistory | Oct 30, 2021 | Popular
The year 1945 was a year of wars ending, soldiers returning home, and segregation. The African American men who fought in World War 2 returned home to violent mods, racism and hatred. Even though this year and more years to come were all battles fought by African...
by qdmhistory | Oct 29, 2021 | History
The events of October 29, 1929, or Black Tuesday as it is called, had far-reaching consequences that led to a decade-long economic slump felt throughout the United States and the world, shaping history and causing widespread suffering. A Weakening Economy in a...
by qdmhistory | Oct 28, 2021 | History
The Volstead Act, formally known as the National Prohibition Act of 1919, was passed on October 28, 1919, to implement the eighteenth amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors and beverages in the United States. Wayne...
by qdmhistory | Oct 27, 2021 | Popular
Walt Disney’s first television show “Disneyland” premiered on the ABC-TV network on October 27, 1954. Hosted by Walt Disney himself, Disneyland was the network’s first major hit series getting the show to unimaginable heights all through the...
by qdmhistory | Oct 26, 2021 | History
One time in history, young men rode horses to deliver mail from Missouri to California. This first-time journey took ten days. The communication system along the Pony Express National Historic Trail was one of the direct and practical means of east-west communications...
by qdmhistory | Oct 25, 2021 | History
Albert B. Fall was a cabinet secretary during the reign of President Warren G. Harding. Albert B. Fall was, however, found guilty of accepting a bribe while serving as a secretary. Albert B. Fall was the first to be imprisoned for committing a crime while serving in...
by qdmhistory | Oct 24, 2021 | Trending
October 24, 1962 was a critical day in the unfolding of the Cuban Missile Crisis, a tense 13-day confrontation between the U.S. and the USSR that nearly provoked a nuclear war. On this day, Soviet ships heading for Cuba approached a blockade of U.S. vessels enacted by...
by qdmhistory | Oct 23, 2021 | History
Also known as the Turco-Italian War, the Italo-Turkish war was between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Italy. It was aimed at acquiring colonies in North Africa by conquering Libya and Tripolitania. The war took place between September 1911 and October 1912. The...
by qdmhistory | Oct 22, 2021 | History
On October 22, 1962, U.S. President John F. Kennedy addressed the nation in a televised speech announcing the discovery of several Soviet missile bases in Cuba. Spotted by American spy planes, he stated their construction was nearing completion. Once fully functional,...
by qdmhistory | Oct 21, 2021 | History
Florence Nightingale arrived in Turkey on November 4, 1854, during the Crimean war (1854-1856). Britain was at war with Russia; as a result, the soldiers were fatally wounded. Florence left England for Turkey, accompanied by 38 nurses to save the soldiers’...
by qdmhistory | Oct 20, 2021 | Popular
The WW1 Armistice was a truce that marked the end of warfare between Germany and the Allies on November 11, 1918. However, it was not the end of the First World War itself but an agreement that stopped the Western Front’s aggression while terms of permanent...
by qdmhistory | Oct 19, 2021 | Popular
Born on 24 December 1166, King John lived his life doing his best to make England great. King John, however, died on 19 October 1216 while in the position of leadership. King John is the child of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He began ruling as the...
by qdmhistory | Oct 18, 2021 | Popular
On this day in history, October 21, 1931, the legendary gangster Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion and finally jailed. While his list of crimes is long and brutal, it was the offense of tax evasion which finally brought down the infamous crime boss. Charged with...
by qdmhistory | Oct 17, 2021 | Trending
The Burma-Thailand Railway might seem like an idyllic way to see beautiful scenery in countries less heavily trafficked by tourists, but many don’t know of its existence; its dark past largely obscured by horrors on the battlefields raging across Europe and...
by qdmhistory | Oct 16, 2021 | Popular
The Battle of Leipzig, also known as the Battle of Nations, was one of the most significant battles in history and the largest in Europe until the First World War. It was a decisive battle in the Napoleonic Wars, which involved five armies and nearly half a million...
by qdmhistory | Oct 15, 2021 | Popular
By 1969, the US had been involved in the Vietnam War for over a decade and suffered over 40,000 casualties. Though many politicians insisted the war was necessary to stop the spread of Communism further into Asia, the conflict and the draft remained deeply unpopular...
by qdmhistory | Oct 14, 2021 | Suggested
On October 14, 1982, U.S. President Ronald Reagan resolved to put an end to rampant drug abuse. He deemed the use of illicit drugs a threat to national security. While he was not the first president to concern himself with the issue of substance abuse (before him,...
by qdmhistory | Oct 13, 2021 | Popular
On October 13, 2010, 33 miners slowly emerged from a capsule that was repeatedly lowered deep in the ground. The miners had been trapped far underground for 69 days, ever since an explosion in the mine had trapped them there on August 5th. For 17 days after the...
by qdmhistory | Oct 12, 2021 | Popular
Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, and his crew left Spain with 3 ships named: the Pinta, the Santa Maria, and the Nina for his first voyage at sea. He wanted to discover a new route to the Orient. He also wanted to bring back treasures for Spain. On this...
by qdmhistory | Oct 11, 2021 | Suggested
Saturday Night Live is one of those rare shows that have managed to become a fixture of American pop culture. However, everything has to start out somewhere. In its case, the first episode of Saturday Night Live aired on October 11 of 1975 with George Carlin as the...
by qdmhistory | Oct 10, 2021 | Popular
The Windscale plant fire accident on October 10, 1957 was Britain’s most severe nuclear accident. The Windscale nuclear reactor plant was producing plutonium for the UK to make its atomic hydrogen bombs. Britain used the first explosive material to test its...
by qdmhistory | Oct 9, 2021 | Popular
On this day of October 9 in 1986, The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber premiered in London’s West End, and it has since gone on to become the most successful stage musical of the contemporary era, as well as the longest-running on Broadway. Who can...
by qdmhistory | Oct 8, 2021 | Suggested
Wangari Maathai was born on April 1, 1940 in Nyeri, Kenya. She is renowned for becoming the first female scholar from central and East Africa to take a biology doctorate. Maathai has been a pioneer in many things that women had not experienced before. For example,...
by qdmhistory | Oct 7, 2021 | Popular
On October 7th, the famed musical “Cats” debuted on Broadway in New York City. It was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on a 1939 collection of poetry by T. S. Eliot called “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” which is where...
by qdmhistory | Oct 6, 2021 | Popular
While the name Jonas Salk may be synonymous with the polio vaccine, another scientist whose vaccine ended up becoming more prevalent worldwide. Albert Sabin introduced his oral vaccine against polio on this day in history, and it has since become one of the most...
by qdmhistory | Oct 5, 2021 | Suggested
The live presidential address was prompted by a report from Truman’s Cabinet Committee that warned of an impending famine disaster in Europe. During the address, the 33rd president urged Americans to cut down on their use of grain, forgo meat on Tuesday, eggs...
by qdmhistory | Oct 4, 2021 | Popular
Sputnik I, the world’s first artificial Earth satellite, was launched into orbit around Earth on October 4th, 1957, by the Soviet Union. Sputnik I Sputnik I was about the size of a basketball, weighed only 183 pounds, and took about 96 minutes to orbit the Earth...
by qdmhistory | Oct 3, 2021 | Popular
One of America’s great authors, Poe, was found by Joseph W. Walker at Ryan’s Fourth Ward Polls in ‘great distress, and in need of immediate assistance” on October 3, 1849. A letter Poe wrote to a poet called Mrs. St. Leon suggests that he was going...
![1869 Mahatma Gandhi [Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi], born in British India](https://todayinhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_265179500-1.jpg)
by qdmhistory | Oct 2, 2021 | Suggested
Today, Gandhi is a celebrated hero, not just in India but the world over. His birthday, October 2, is the world’s International Day of Non-violence. In India, the day is a national holiday. His Philosophies Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence philosophy can be...
by qdmhistory | Oct 1, 2021 | History
In 1910 on the first day of October, in Rowena, Texas Bonnie Parker was born. Bonnie was the second child in a family of three. Bonnie Parker’s bricklayer father, Charles Robert Parker, died when Bonnie was one year old. Bonnie’s widowed mother, Emma...
by qdmhistory | Sep 30, 2021 | Suggested
In 1846, the first clinical case involving the use of ether for dental anesthesia occurred. Dentist William Morton was the surgeon in charge of the procedure which happened in Boston. On March 30, 1842, Dr. Crawford Long used ether when removing a tumor from a...
by qdmhistory | Sep 29, 2021 | History
September, 29th 1863, was when the famous lyrics “Les Pêcheurs de Perles” aka the “Pearl Fishers” were produced at the Theatre Lyrics in Paris. Recited and performed by Carré and Cormon and composed by Georges Bizet, the opera act stole the hearts of opera and poetic...
by qdmhistory | Sep 28, 2021 | Popular
Confucius is one of the most famous ancient Chinese philosophers. His teachings are a moral and ethical compass for people wishing to live fulfilling and meaningful lives under Confucianism. Early life and family of Confucius Confucius was born on September 28th, 551...
by qdmhistory | Sep 27, 2021 | Popular
If you have been to the British Museum, you have probably noticed a stone with hieroglyphic inscriptions called the Rosetta stone. In 1799, a French officer named Bouchard unraveled a mystery stone with inscriptions of the Egyptian hieroglyphic texts. Tracing its...
by qdmhistory | Sep 26, 2021 | Suggested
After the black death tragedy of 1348, London never imagined it could experience a worse plague again. On September 26, 1665, the Great Plague of London hit its population hard, causing 68,596 deaths. Some researchers argue that the actual number was over 100,000....
by qdmhistory | Sep 25, 2021 | Popular
If you are wondering about how the 9 am-5 pm jobs came into existence, it will surprise you to know that Henry Ford was the mastermind. Back in the 1920s, the Ford Company came up with a welfare department that looked out for the plight of its workers. To help his...
by qdmhistory | Sep 24, 2021 | Suggested
Jews had lived in Yemen for years, even before the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BC. The community had grown from the Maccabees’ time after the Second Temple’s destruction in 70 BC. Even though they comprised majorly small communities that lived in isolation,...
by qdmhistory | Sep 23, 2021 | Suggested
On September 4, 1957, 9 black students, historically known as the Little Rock Nine, were denied entry by armed troops in the Arkansas National Guard, resulting in an altercation. Images of the African American students being screamed at, mocked and spat on became...
by qdmhistory | Sep 22, 2021 | Popular
Before it was known that poisonous rye was the cause of hallucinations and convulsions in some of the local townsfolk, hysterical teenagers and vicious rumors caused widespread panic in the town of Salem. Teenage girls were thought to be possessed by Satan after...
by qdmhistory | Sep 21, 2021 | Popular
Stonehenge is a Unesco World Heritage site that is as iconic as it is mysterious. Today the ancient stone circle on Salisbury Plain is considered the most important monument in England under the British government’s ownership. However, Stonehenge wasn’t always a...
by qdmhistory | Sep 20, 2021 | History
On his day in history, Sept.20th, 1881, The 21st President of the United States was sworn into office. The year 1881 began with a Republican president, Rutherford B. Hayes. He served out his one and only term, and then he officially turned over the reins to James A....
by qdmhistory | Sep 19, 2021 | History, Popular
On Sept 19, 1976, a newspaper in Philadelphia published what is now regarded as the first president’s legacy to the people of America, known as George Washington’s Farewell. As his second term came to an end, President George Washington decided not to seek...
by qdmhistory | Sep 18, 2021 | Popular
September 18, 1947 – With the passing of The National Security Act by President Harry S. Truman earlier in the year, this day marked the beginning of operations for The United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Following the events of World War II, The U.S....
by qdmhistory | Sep 17, 2021 | Suggested
On September 17, 1916, the pilot famously known as the Red Baron completed the first combat kill of his career by gunning down a British plane in Northern France. The Red Baron would go on to achieve 80 successful missions in aerial warfare. Manfred Albrecht Freiherr...
by qdmhistory | Sep 16, 2021 | Popular
September 16, 1997 – Following the acquisition of NeXT Inc. by Apple Computers, Steve Jobs was named (Interim) CEO of the company he had cofounded years before. Jobs and partner Steve Wozniak founded Apple computers in 1976. By the mid-80s, Jobs had moved on to other...
by qdmhistory | Sep 15, 2021 | Popular
On this day in 1916, the first tanks were deployed during warfare. The First Use of Tanks in Warfare In the Battle of the Somme, the British deployed the British Mark I tank in a massive offensive move against the Germans. The British Mark I was the very first tank...
by qdmhistory | Sep 14, 2021 | Popular
Following President William McKinley’s assassination, Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as the United States president on September 14th, 1901. He was only 42 years at the time and became the 26th president of the United States. His inauguration was the fifth...
by qdmhistory | Sep 13, 2021 | Popular
The day was September 12, 1940. Eighteen-year-old Marcel Ravidat was following his dog down a hole near Montignac, France, and stumbled upon the archaeological equivalent of an ancient museum. Not just any museum, but a literal time machine that gave a peek into our...
by qdmhistory | Sep 12, 2021 | Suggested
The day was September 12, 1940. Eighteen-year-old Marcel Ravidat was following his dog down a hole near Montignac, France, and stumbled upon the archaeological equivalent of an ancient museum, known as the Lascaux Cave Paintings. Not just any museum, but a literal...
by qdmhistory | Sep 11, 2021 | History, Popular
On the morning of Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, America experienced what we can only describe as the worst terrorist attack in history. The pentagon and the world trade towers were hit. Everyone was going about their business, unaware that the global terrorist...
by qdmhistory | Sep 10, 2021 | Suggested
It was almost a century ago, on September 10, 1924, that two Chicago killers were found guilty of kidnapping and killing Robert “Bobby” Franks, a teenage boy, for an “intellectual thrill.” Nathan F. Leopold, Jr. and Richard A. Loeb were defended by Clarence Darrow, a...
by qdmhistory | Sep 9, 2021 | History, Popular
There is a huge emphasis on the 1972 summer Olympics being non-political. But, unfortunately, the US vs. USSR events have always been political for the simple reason that its results are a matter of national pride. As such, there are a number of Olympic match-ups...
by qdmhistory | Sep 8, 2021 | Suggested
On September 8th, 1504, one of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, Statue of David, was unveiled in Italy’s Piazza Della Signoria. The glorious 17-foot marble sculpture portrays a naked David contemplating his upcoming battle with Goliath. Unlike previous depictions that...
by qdmhistory | Sep 7, 2021 | History, Suggested
It wasn’t long ago that a newborn’s care was limited to the confines of the house. As a result, childbirth was frequently a risky experience, with preterm or unwell newborns sometimes dying without medical attention. Hospitals began grouping neonates into...
by qdmhistory | Sep 6, 2021 | History
On September 6th, 1916, the first true American supermarket opened. Its name was Piggly Wiggly. The store opened in Memphis, Tennessee, and since its opening in 1916, it has amassed 530 stores across seventeen states in the United States. The reason why it’s the first...
by qdmhistory | Sep 5, 2021 | Popular
Jesse James was a bank and train robber in the American Old West, best remembered as the gang of outlaws known as the James-Younger. Before embarking on criminal careers in the Old West, Jesse James and his brother Frank served in the Confederate Army. As leaders of...
by qdmhistory | Sep 4, 2021 | Suggested
In 1888, George Eastman (born in 1854) patented the first roll-film camera, which could take pictures and make them available to be used by photographers worldwide. He filed it with the U.S. Patent Office on September 4, 1888. This invention is now known as cameras...
by qdmhistory | Sep 3, 2021 | Suggested
Louis Sullivan, the full name Louis Henry Sullivan, was an American architect regarded as the spiritual father of modern American architecture and associated with the aesthetics of early skyscraper design. He was born September 3, 1856, in Boston, Massachusetts, and...
by qdmhistory | Sep 2, 2021 | Popular
In 1666, an overwhelming fire swept through the streets of London. The great fire of London destroyed 13,200 houses and 87 parish churches. It is also reported that the St. Paul’s Cathedral, Royal Exchange and Guildhall were lost in the fire. Not to mention are...
by qdmhistory | Sep 1, 2021 | Suggested
The Liberty Bell is one of America’s iconic symbols of Independence. The liberty bell (also known as the State House Bell or Old State House Bell) is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Commissioned on September 1, 1752, by the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly from...
by qdmhistory | Aug 31, 2021 | History, Popular
The death of Princess Diana of Wales, on August 31, 1997, sent shockwaves around the globe. The beloved princess was well known for her charitable causes and kind way with the less fortunate. She was 36 years old. On the night of her death, Diana was with her...
by qdmhistory | Aug 30, 2021 | History, Suggested
Constructed in 1899 for France’s World’s Fair, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. Named for its creator, Gustave Eiffel, the tower has become a cultural icon that is still praised for its elegant design. The Eiffel...
by qdmhistory | Aug 29, 2021 | History
Frank Seiberling founded the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company on 29th August 1898. The company was named after Charles Goodyear, who was the inventor of vulcanized rubber. Goodyear is an American multinational tire manufacturing company that is based in Akron, Ohio,...
by qdmhistory | Aug 28, 2021 | History, Suggested
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the famous; I have a dream speech which remains the central part of his legacy. He addressed the speech to a crowd of over 250,000 people who gathered for the March on Washington for Freedoms and Jobs at Lincoln...
by qdmhistory | Aug 27, 2021 | History, Suggested
Paul Reubens, famously known as a comedian in Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure as Pee-Wee Herman, was born on August 27- 1952, in Peekskill, New York. Contrary to the expectations of his parents, father, a car salesman, and mother, a teacher, Reubens started showing...
by qdmhistory | Aug 26, 2021 | History, Suggested
Mesmerized with magic as a child, Hungarian-born Erik Weisz first attracted attention in the United States while performing in vaudeville. While he and his brother were performing in Coney Island, he met Wilhelmina Beatrice “Bess” Rahner, a fellow...
by qdmhistory | Aug 25, 2021 | History, Popular
Amelia Earhart was a notable female pilot who was born on July 24, 1897, and mysteriously disappeared on July 2, 1937. Apart from her transcontinental flight record on August 25, 1932, she also set many other significant records before. Amelia was born in the United...
by qdmhistory | Aug 24, 2021 | History
On the exciting day of August 24th, 1891, Thomas Edison was awarded a patent for his ingenious new invention: the Kinetograph. This first-of-its-kind motion picture camera was made using a wooden cabinet, about 50 feet of 35 mm film and an electrically driven sprocket...
by qdmhistory | Aug 23, 2021 | History
Mount Vesuvius is an active volcano that can be found on the Gulf of Naples. It has erupted on numerous occasions. However, its surroundings have nonetheless been well-populated since ancient times because of its fertile soil. This is why Mount Vesuvius is best known...
by qdmhistory | Aug 22, 2021 | History, Suggested
On August 22, 1927, Yankees superstar Babe Ruth hit his 40th home run of the 1927 season, further cementing his title as a baseball hall-of-fame legend. Born in 1895, Babe Ruth began his major-league baseball career as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in 1914....
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 21, 2021 | History
On August 21, 1878, a significant event in legal history took place. Seventy-five lawyers from twenty states and the District of Columbia gathered in Saratoga Springs, New York, to establish what would later become the largest voluntary professional association of...
by qdmhistory | Aug 20, 2021 | History
There is no universal consensus on the turning point of the American Civil War. However, it is common for people to point to the Battle of Gettysburg and the conclusion of the Siege of Vicksburg, both of which happened in early July of 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg...
by qdmhistory | Aug 19, 2021 | History, Suggested
Generally speaking, westerners remember Operation Barbarossa as an invasion of the Soviet Union carried out by Germany and Germany alone. However, this is quite inaccurate because Nazi Germany was supported by five other countries, which explains why the initiative...
by qdmhistory | Aug 18, 2021 | Suggested
Lou Gehrig, a member of the New York Yankees, played his 1,000th consecutive game away from home against the Detroit Tigers at Navin Field in Detroit, MI. Lou had played for the Yankees since 1923. Lou and the Yankees faced Earl Whitehill for nine innings and relief...
by qdmhistory | Aug 17, 2021 | History
Unknown to the world, an award-winning star was born on August 17, 1960, in Santa Monica, California. Born of parents who both had a passion and experience in theatre and acting, it is no surprise that Sean Penn found his life’s path in acting and directing...
by qdmhistory | Aug 16, 2021 | History, Popular
On this day in history— in the year 1888— the creator of Coca-Cola, named John Stith Pemberton, died of stomach cancer. Pemberton was just 57 years old at the time of his death; however, his creation has lived on well beyond the nineteenth century. In fact, the...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 15, 2021 | History
In the early 1900s, Procter & Gamble aimed to create a hardened soap from vegetable fats. However, what they developed instead was a product that revolutionized American cooking. On August 15, 1911, the Cincinnati-based company introduced Crisco—the first solid...
by qdmhistory | Aug 14, 2021 | History
On the morning of August 14, 1945, the news that Japan had surrendered and effectively ended World War II was met with overwhelming celebration across the world. Times Square was marred with throngs of excitement as exhausted Americans held up newspapers with their...
by qdmhistory | Aug 13, 2021 | History
Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker are perhaps the most notorious couple ever; the two went through an infamous crime spree during the Great Depression that ultimately led to their demise. The couple has since become pop culture icons, with several screenplays written...
by qdmhistory | Aug 12, 2021 | History
On August 12, 1908, the Henry Ford company built the first Model T car. The new model was the fruit of a long and arduous journey of the invention that led to one of the most iconic cars in history. This day is considered by many to be the beginning of the American...
by qdmhistory | Aug 11, 2021 | History
Steve Wozniak, computer programmer inventor, engineer and philanthropist, was born on August 8, 1950, in San Jose, CA. As many refer to him, “Woz” is the son of an engineer who worked at Lockheed. From an early age, Wozniak showed interest in electronics,...
by qdmhistory | Aug 10, 2021 | History, Suggested
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum complex. After over a decade of debate between Congress and the public, the United States passed legislation founding the Smithsonian Institution on August 10th, 1846. The legislation was signed into law...
by qdmhistory | Aug 9, 2021 | History
Betty Boop made her debut on August 9, 1930, in “Dizzy Dishes” with her trademark heels, garter and long eyelashes. In this iconic Max Fleischer cartoon, waiter/chef/dog Bimbo scrambles to serve a roast duck to a gorilla in a nightclub. When he sees Betty...
by qdmhistory | Aug 8, 2021 | History
President Richard M Nixon announced his intention to resign from office on August 8, 1974. Before his resignation, the president was facing impeachment over his involvement in the Watergate scandal. The Watergate affair began on June 17, 1972, when several burglars...
by Matilda Cruz | Aug 7, 2021 | History
During the American Revolution, as the nation was forming and the fight for independence was ongoing, George Washington made a bold move. On August 7, 1782, General Washington established the Badge of Military Merit at his headquarters in Newburgh, New York. This...
by qdmhistory | Aug 6, 2021 | History
On the break of dawn of August 6, 1890, Kemmler awoke to his execution which was the first of its kind. After quickly donning a suit, having breakfast, and saying a silent prayer, his head was shaved. Kemmler was then presented to 17 witnesses who were in attendance...
by qdmhistory | Aug 5, 2021 | History
Unknown to the public, August 5, 1966, revolutionized the music industry and the social and political space. On this day, The Beatles’ album Revolver was issued, alongside the single ‘Eleanor Rigby/Yellow Submarine.’ The single is perhaps one of the...
by qdmhistory | Aug 4, 2021 | History, Suggested
The 4th of August 1944 was an eventful Friday for Anne Frank and her family. It was a sunny and warm day. To Anne and the people hiding, it was the 761st day since they took shelter in one of her father’s warehouses, a secret Annex in Amsterdam. German police...
by qdmhistory | Aug 3, 2021 | History, Popular
For three years, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and National Basketball League (NBL) competed to win players and fans. However, on August 3, 1949, the world witnessed an unbelievable twist of events. The two teams merged to create the National Basketball...
by qdmhistory | Aug 2, 2021 | History
The members of Congress signed the declaration of independence on August 2, 1776. The delegation constituted 56 members, among them some who missed out on the voting of the approval. They signed the delegation by State, starting from North to South, beginning with New...
by qdmhistory | Aug 1, 2021 | History, Popular
On August 1, 1770, William Clark was born in Ladysmith, the eldest son of John and Sarah Clark. He grew up on the family farm and received his education in a one-room schoolhouse. When he was nine years old, he discovered his love for exploring. His father encouraged...
by qdmhistory | Jul 31, 2021 | History, Suggested
Pilgrim Fathers refer to a group of separatists who fled England because of religious intolerance against Protestant England. The intolerance was at its peak during the reign of James, who wanted to create another English colony in what was referred to as the New...
by qdmhistory | Jul 30, 2021 | History
With e-books all the rage and paperback books available on every bookseller’s website and in every brick-and-mortar bookshop, it can be hard to envision a world where paperback books are a novelty and not a standard. But, before the 1930s, almost all books were...
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 29, 2021 | History
According to police, British rock and roll band Led Zeppelin was robbed of more than $200,000 in cash from a hotel safety deposit box. On July 29, 1973, Led Zeppelin road manager Richard Cole realized that their hotel safety deposit box had been stolen as the band was...
by qdmhistory | Jul 28, 2021 | History
Jim Davis was born on July 28, 1945, in Marion, Indiana. He is an American cartoonist and creator of the two famous comic strips, U.S. Acres and Garfield. Davis grew up with his mother Catherine Anna Davis, father William James Davis and brother Dave on a farm in...
by qdmhistory | Jul 27, 2021 | History
Everyone who enjoys cartoons must know a thing or two about Warner Bros, though a few may know about Bugs Bunny, an animated cartoon character that debuted on July 27, 1940. Bugs Bunny is known for starring in Merrie Melodies and the Looney Tunes series of short...
by qdmhistory | Jul 26, 2021 | Trending
On July 26, 1953, a small army of brave and righteous youthful Cubans took the Moncada Barracks in Santiago City by storm. Even though it was a failed attack against the then-dictator named Fulgencio Batista, the world cannot help but mark it as a special day in...
by qdmhistory | Jul 25, 2021 | History
As early as 1965, Bob Dylan had become a top songwriter of the folk music revival in America. The response to his albums has been described by many as electric, which helped him become branded as the spokesperson of a generation. However, on July 25- 1965, Bob Dylan...
by qdmhistory | Jul 24, 2021 | History
On the 24th of July 1911, American archeologist Hiram Bingham made his first visit to the ruins of the Inca settlement of Machu Picchu, which has since become one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. A hilly region northwest of Cuzco, Machu Picchu...
by qdmhistory | Jul 23, 2021 | History
In what solidified Tiger Woods meteoric rise to golf greats, July 23rd, 2000, was the day Woods beat Thomas Bjørn and Ernie Els to win his first Open title; at 24, Woods is the youngest player ever to win all 4 major titles. Considered a phenom resulting from...
by qdmhistory | Jul 22, 2021 | Popular
On July 22, 81 years ago, legendary Canadian American game show host Alex Trebek was born in Sudbury, Ontario. This is a bittersweet birthday for fans of the industry titan who passed away in November 2020 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Who is Alex Trebek? As...
by qdmhistory | Jul 21, 2021 | Popular
“That’s one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind,” said Commander Neil Armstrong as he took his first steps on the Moon. A staggering 650 million people worldwide heard Armstrong’s words through their televisions as they watched him...
by qdmhistory | Jul 20, 2021 | History
History was made on October 4, 1957, history when the Soviet Union sent the first man-made aircraft into earth’s orbit with Sputnik I, a shock to the United States government and scientific community. National security implications were huge; an adversary who...
by qdmhistory | Jul 19, 2021 | History
The Seneca Falls Convention was the USA’s first woman’s rights convention. It took place on July 19, 1848, at the Wesleyan Chapel in New York’s Seneca Falls. It was in this meeting where the participants launched the women’s suffrage movement...
by qdmhistory | Jul 18, 2021 | History
On July 18, 2013, the city of Detroit, Michigan, filed for bankruptcy, becoming the largest U.S. municipal bankruptcy ever at $18.8 billion. While America has seen a number of bankruptcies, the city of Detroit is the largest on to file for Chapter 9 Bankruptcy....
by Matilda Cruz | Jul 18, 2021 | History
Despite the societal norms that discouraged women from publishing, Jane Austen, a woman of her time, managed to overcome these challenges. In an era when women were expected to focus on household duties, she defied the odds and published six novels before her death,...
by qdmhistory | Jul 17, 2021 | Popular
The Allied powers were not of one mind throughout WW2. As a result, there were three major conferences held between the leaders of the United States, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom to facilitate their coordination with one another. The first was the...
by qdmhistory | Jul 16, 2021 | Popular
July 16, 1943, is an important year for the NFL; it’s the day when Jimmy Johnson was born in Port Arthur, Texas. Johnson was a college and an American NFL coach. During his coaching career, he was a football coach for teams like Dolphins, Cowboys and Hurricanes....
by qdmhistory | Jul 15, 2021 | Popular
Released in 1972, Honky Chateau is the fifth studio album by Elton John. On July 15th, 1972, the album became No. 1 in the United States. This ranking started a streak of 7 consecutive No. 1 albums for Elton John, certifying him as one of the all-time greats. ...
by qdmhistory | Jul 14, 2021 | Popular
On July 14, 1933, led by Aldof Hitler, the Nazi political party banned all other political parties in Germany. Hitler had just become the chancellor of the country on January 30, the same year. As soon as he took the reigns of power, Hitler utilized the...
by qdmhistory | Jul 13, 2021 | Popular
It was on this date, July 13, 1923, that possibly the most renowned sign in the movie industry, the Hollywood sign, was officially dedicated to the Hollywood Hills atop Mount Lee in Los Angeles, California. The 50-foot letters were initially intended to spell...
by qdmhistory | Jul 12, 2021 | Suggested
For most of the 19th century, smoking was a national pastime. A multitude of ads and media created a culture around smoking. During this time, the idea that smoking is dangerous wasn’t accepted as it is today, and there were many lobbyists that wanted to keep it...
by qdmhistory | Jul 11, 2021 | Popular
On television, the year 1966 saw a number of noteworthy events. One such event took place on July 11, 1966, when the ABC television network premiered The Newlywed Game. In this American game show, Newlywed couples competed in a series of revealing question rounds to...
by qdmhistory | Jul 10, 2021 | Popular
The Kingdom of France was a long-time rival of England and then England-centric Great Britain. To name an example of their conflicts, it lost every single one of its North American holdings in 1763 because of the Seven Years’ War, meaning that it was eager for...
by qdmhistory | Jul 9, 2021 | Popular
Fred Savage was born on July 9th, 1976 to Joanne and Lewis Savage. Growing up in Chicago, Fred had two siblings, Ben and Kala, who both also went into acting. His first onscreen performance was in Morningstar/Eveningstar at the young age of 9, which led to a...
by qdmhistory | Jul 8, 2021 | History
Smallpox was an extremely infectious viral disease that often horribly disfigured and killed those who were unfortunate enough to contract the virus. Declared eradicated by the World Health Organization in 1980, smallpox plagued the planet for centuries, killing on...
by qdmhistory | Jul 7, 2021 | History
The Roswell event was a crash of a US troop balloon on a Roswell, New Mexico ranch in July 1947. Following conspiracy theories suggesting that the crash was a floating saucer and that the US government covered up the truth. Roswell Army Air Field published a news...
by qdmhistory | Jul 6, 2021 | Suggested
On July 6-1885, world-renowned French chemist and bacteriologist Louis Pasteur administered the first anti-rabies vaccine to a nine-year-old boy. On this day in history, Pasteur’s anti-rabies inoculation saved the life of a young Joseph Meister, who would become...
by qdmhistory | Jul 5, 2021 | Suggested
On a late summer day in 16th century England Isaac Newton’s first book, which he had been working on for several years, was finally published. The Royal Society of England published his work, Principia, on July 5th, 1687, nearly two years after Newton completed...
by qdmhistory | Jul 4, 2021 | Suggested
July 4, 1776, represents one of the most significant dates in the United States’ calendar. It was on this day that Congress declared independence from Great Britain. A declaration drafted by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and others showed that...
by qdmhistory | Jul 3, 2021 | History
The Battle of Gettysburg between July 1 and July 3, 1863, is considered the most significant war fought during the American Civil War. It ended with a victory for the Union troops. It began with the Confederates’ Army invasion of Northern Virginia on July 1, led...
by qdmhistory | Jul 2, 2021 | History
The Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act were signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964. The Civil Rights Act states it’s illegal to discriminate against people based on race, color, religion, or national origin. It also prohibits segregation in...
by qdmhistory | Jul 1, 2021 | History
The first TV commercial ever aired in the United States was on July 1, 1941, at 2:29 p.m. At the time, the Brooklyn Dodgers played a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Ebbets Field, New York. The commercial featured on the NBC-owned WNBT (now WNBC),...
by qdmhistory | Jun 30, 2021 | History
What exactly happened in a remote area of Siberia on June 30, 1908? The short answer: no one knows, but some incredible force loud enough to be heard miles away also flattened some 80 million trees near the Stony Tunguska River. Now called the Tunguska Event, it has...
by qdmhistory | Jun 29, 2021 | History
Back in Renaissance England, the theatre was a staple of public entertainment. Theatres charged only a few pennies for admission, and the companies operating them often tried to outdo one another with grandiose special effects. Such efforts turned against...
by qdmhistory | Jun 28, 2021 | History
According to some historians, the shape of world politics changed forever on June 28, 1389. On that day, the Serbian and Ottoman armies clashed on the outskirts of what is now Kosovo. Though both sides suffered heavy losses, the Ottoman armies managed to squeak out a...
by qdmhistory | Jun 27, 2021 | History
In a dark theater at Bell Labs in New York City on June 27th, 1929, a woman sat in front of a lamp flickering across her face and dress. Within moments, her moving image was transmitted to a television screen across the room. The first color tv moment was broadcasted....
by qdmhistory | Jun 26, 2021 | History
The first 14,000 infantry U.S. troops landed in France at the port of Saint-Nazaire on June 26, 1917, during World War I. The motive to keep the site secret from the German submarines was thwarted by the sizable enthusiastic crowd that waited to welcome them....
by qdmhistory | Jun 25, 2021 | History
As early as 1944, with World War II still raging, American leaders knew the next big conflict would be between the United States and the Soviet Union. In the post-war chaos, this conflict settled into what would become known as the Cold War; decades of tension,...
by qdmhistory | Jun 24, 2021 | History
The most influential artist of our time, Pablo Picasso, was born on October 25th, 1881 in Malaga, Spain. His father was a drawing professor inspiring his son into pursuing art, and at the early age of 13, Picasso held his first art exhibition. Later, he dropped his...
by qdmhistory | Jun 23, 2021 | History
The push for reproductive rights has a long and difficult history. With the feminist movement came a push for bodily autonomy. Traditionally in the 1950s, women were not allowed to be prescribed birth control methods in the United States of America due to the...
by qdmhistory | Jun 22, 2021 | History
The signing of the GI Bill took place on June 22, 1944, by US president Franklin D Roosevelt. This bill covered costs for veterans and their families to attend training or schooling. After the end of the war, there was a looming fear of a great depression. To avoid...
by qdmhistory | Jun 21, 2021 | History
On June 21, 1778, New Hampshire voted to ratify the United States Constitution, the ninth state of the original thirteen colonies to do so and the last needed to complete the ratification process. Prior to that, the colonies operated under the Articles of...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 30, 2021 | History
The Third Reich ended not with a triumphant last stand, but with a gunshot in a bunker. On April 30, 1945, as Soviet forces stormed Berlin, Adolf Hitler—the dictator who plunged Europe into war—took his own life inside the Führerbunker. It was the final act of a man...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 29, 2021 | History
Today in history marks the day that a jury in Simi Valley, to the shock and disbelief of many, acquitted four Los Angeles Police Department officers charged with the brutal beating of Rodney King, an unarmed Black motorist. The incident was captured on video by a...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 28, 2021 | History
Benito Mussolini, the iron-fisted ruler of Italy and a prominent figure in European fascism, did not meet his end with a grand speech or a final salute. Instead, he was struck down by a sudden barrage of bullets on a quiet road in Giulino di Mezzegra. The narrative of...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 27, 2021 | History
As the former Yugoslavia fractured in the early 1990s, new nations emerged. On April 27, 1992, Serbia’s formal declaration as a republic, in alliance with Montenegro to form the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, was a pivotal moment in the shifting political...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 26, 2021 | History
The world watched in awe as South Africans of all races formed patient queues stretching for kilometers on April 26, 1994. This was a significant moment in South African history, marking the end of 46 years of apartheid rule. For three extraordinary days (extended to...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 25, 2021 | History
On this day in 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick published a brief but groundbreaking paper in *Nature* that revealed the double helix structure of DNA. This discovery answered fundamental questions about biology and heredity, transforming our understanding of the...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 24, 2021 | History
On April 24, 1915, the Ottoman Empire initiated a systematic campaign of deportation, mass killings, and forced marches that would culminate in the Armenian Genocide, one of the first modern genocides. That day, hundreds of Armenian intellectuals, community leaders,...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 23, 2021 | History
On April 23, 1985, Coca-Cola made a decision that would go down in business history as one of the most spectacular miscalculations of all time: the company discontinued its 99-year-old formula and replaced it with New Coke. The move triggered immediate outrage,...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 22, 2021 | History
After 150 years of rapid industrial growth, the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, symbolized hope for environmental conservation. An impressive 20 million Americans participated in nationwide protests, motivated by the urgent need for environmental protection and...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 21, 2021 | History
On April 21, 1836, Texan forces under General Sam Houston launched a surprise attack against Mexican troops near the San Jacinto River. Beginning at 4:30 pm, the assault lasted only 18 minutes but proved devastating. General Houston’s 900 soldiers overwhelmed...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 20, 2021 | History
The future dictator of Nazi Germany entered the world on April 20, 1889, in Braunau am Inn, a small Austrian town near the German border. This day would prove foundational for a tragic path that shaped global history. Family conflicts and personal struggles marked...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 19, 2021 | History
On this day in 1775, tensions between Britain and the American colonies escalated into open conflict. The Battles of Lexington and Concord marked the beginning of the American Revolution, as colonial militias engaged British troops. The famous phrase “the shot...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 18, 2021 | History
At 5:12 AM on April 18, 1906, San Francisco was violently jolted awake by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake. The quake, centered along the San Andreas Fault, unleashed catastrophic destruction across Northern California and ignited fires that would rage for days. In the end,...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 17, 2021 | History
On April 17, 1984, an act of bravery and sacrifice unfolded in London’s St James’s Square, an event that would reshape UK-Libya relations. During a peaceful protest against Gaddafi, PC Yvonne Fletcher, 25, stood her ground. She was fatally shot when Libyan...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 16, 2021 | History
On April 16, 1943, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann recorded the first ever documented LSD intoxication experience, which fundamentally transformed human understanding of consciousness. During his work at Sandoz Laboratories, Hofmann experienced his first LSD exposure...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 15, 2021 | History
In one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history, the RMS Titanic sank in the early hours on April 15, 1912, after colliding with an iceberg in the North Atlantic. The luxury liner, operated by the White Star Line, was on its highly anticipated maiden voyage...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 14, 2021 | History
On April 14, 1865, history was made at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., when President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a man motivated by Confederate sympathies. As the Civil War was nearing its end, Lincoln’s assassination...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 13, 2021 | History
The city of Dublin witnessed a musical event that would echo through the ages—the inaugural performance of George Frideric Handel’s oratorio, “Messiah,” which happened on April 13, 1742. This masterpiece, now a cornerstone of the choral repertoire,...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 12, 2021 | History
On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin and the Soviet Union etched their names in history. With unparalleled bravery, Gagarin ascended into the Vostok 1 and soared into the cosmos, becoming the first human to ever journey into space. This moment was a triumph of Soviet...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 11, 2021 | History
NASA conducted the Apollo 13 launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:13 p.m. EST on April 11, 1970. NASA planned Apollo 13 as the mission to insert astronauts on the Moon for the third time, yet what became history’s most thrilling rescue effort during...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 10, 2021 | History
Embarking on its maiden voyage on April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton, England, a majestic symbol of human ingenuity and luxury. With its grand reputation as the largest and most elegant ocean liner of the time, the Titanic, carrying over 2,200...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 9, 2021 | History
On April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, the course of American history changed dramatically as General Robert E. Lee formally yielded his Confederate forces to General Ulysses S. Grant. This signaled surrender and a close to the Civil War. Lee’s...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 8, 2021 | History
The U.S. Constitution received its 17th Amendment ratification on April 8, 1913, establishing crucial changes for American democratic systems. The method of selecting senators through state governments fell victim to political machines, powerful and often corrupt...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 7, 2021 | History
History was made when Bell Telephone Laboratories successfully conducted the first long-distance television transmission on April 7, 1927. This groundbreaking event, which took place between Washington, D.C., and New York City, marked a significant breakthrough in the...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 6, 2021 | History
On April 6, 1896, Athens, Greece, made history by hosting the first modern Olympic Games, reviving the tradition after more than 1,500 years of inactivity. To promote national unity and peaceful coexistence among nations, the visionary Pierre de Coubertin revived the...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 5, 2021 | History
Born into slavery on April 5, 1856, in Franklin County, Virginia, Booker Taliaferro Washington became a prominent educator, author, and leader in American history. Booker was born to his mother, Jane, an enslaved cook, and an unidentified Caucasian man. He faced the...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 4, 2021 | History
On April 4, 1949, 12 nations signed the North Atlantic Treaty, formally establishing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This historic agreement created a military alliance to ensure security and stability despite growing Soviet influence during the Cold...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 3, 2021 | History
On April 3, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed the European Recovery Program (ERP), commonly known as the Marshall Plan. This significant initiative was designed to rebuild war-torn Europe, prevent the spread of communism, and restore economic stability. Over the...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 2, 2021 | History
The United States Congress passed the Coinage Act on April 2, 1792. This act established the nation’s first official mint in Philadelphia, the capital of the United States at the time. It aimed to standardize the American monetary system, replacing the diverse...
by Matilda Cruz | Apr 1, 2021 | History
Google made a monumental leap in the history of email when it launched Gmail on April 1, 2004. This launch was not just a milestone but a revolution that reshaped the email industry. Gmail was a game-changer with its robust search and a groundbreaking 1GB of free...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 31, 2021 | History
To mark its completion, the Eiffel Tower had a special dedication ceremony on March 31, 1889, ahead of its official unveiling at the World’s Fair in May. Gustave Eiffel hosted the event, which was attended by French Prime Minister Pierre Tirard, esteemed guests,...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 30, 2021 | History
In 1959, Tibet faced a crisis as tensions between the Chinese government and the Tibetan resistance forces, who were fighting for Tibetan autonomy, escalated. On March 10, thousands of Tibetans gathered in Lhasa to protest Chinese rule, fearing that the Dalai Lama was...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 29, 2021 | History
On March 29–30, 1901, Australians embarked on a momentous journey as they participated in the first federal election in the nation’s history. This election, a pivotal moment following the Federation of Australia on January 1, 1901, which united six former British...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 28, 2021 | History
Two hundred years ago, the idea of flying a metal box over land, let alone water, would have been considered fiction or even madness. But on March 28, 1910, Henri Fabre, a French engineer and aviator, defied these notions and made history. With his courage and vision,...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 27, 2021 | History
On March 27, 1952, “Singin’ in the Rain” debuted in New York City, instantly cementing itself as one of the greatest musicals ever. The film would define the Golden Age of Hollywood with its dazzling choreography, unforgettable songs, and charming...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 26, 2021 | History
On March 26, 1979, history was forever altered when Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty in Washington, D.C., formally ending decades of hostility between the two nations. This monumental agreement, a turning point in Middle Eastern history, resulted from intense...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 25, 2021 | History
The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, a landmark legislation that passed through the British Parliament on March 25, 1807, marked a decisive moment in the global battles against the transatlantic slave trade. With this legislation, British ships lost their right to...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 24, 2021 | History
On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker struck a reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, unleashing a staggering 11 million gallons of crude oil into the ocean. This colossal event is one of the most severe environmental catastrophes in history, inflicting...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 23, 2021 | History
The naval and aerial bombardment for the Battle of Okinawa started on March 23, 1945, in preparation for the U.S. ground invasion on April 1, 1945. This became World War II’s largest and deadliest amphibious battle throughout the Pacific theater. The Allied and...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 22, 2021 | History
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) passed the U.S. Senate on March 22, 1972, successfully completing its journey through Congress and moving on to the states for ratification. This historic amendment, which had been in development for nearly 50 years, was created to...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 21, 2021 | History
On March 21, 1943, German resistance fighter Rudolf Christoph Freiherr von Gersdorff came closer than most to assassinating Adolf Hitler. Armed with explosives hidden in his coat, he intended to sacrifice himself to eliminate the Führer. However, with his uncanny...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 20, 2021 | History
Modern history recorded one of the most destructive terrorist actions when Aum Shinrikyo’s members launched their assault in Tokyo, Japan, on March 20, 1995. During the rush hour commute, Aum Shinrikyo cult members discharged lethal nerve gas sarin from five...
by Sarah Zappitelli | Mar 19, 2021 | Uncategorized
On March 19, 1920, the U.S. Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles for a second time, preventing the United States from joining the League of Nations. This decision shaped the course of international diplomacy and kept America out of post-war European affairs....
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 18, 2021 | History
Stephen “Grover” Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, was born on March 18, 1837, in Caldwell, New Jersey. He is the first of two U.S. presidents to serve two non-consecutive terms, winning elections in 1884 and 1892. His leadership was...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 17, 2021 | History
Amid the brutal Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), furious battles raged between Chinese and Japanese forces. The Imperial Japanese Army launched an attack to take Nanchang, a vital Chinese military base and supply hub. This led to the start of the Battle of Nanchang on...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 16, 2021 | History
On March 16, 1872, the pioneering spirit of the first English FA Cup Final took place in London, heralding the beginning of football history. This occasion established the foundation for contemporary football and signified the start of the world’s oldest...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 15, 2021 | History
The screenplay of The Godfather, which premiered on March 15, 1972, in NYC, was created by Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo following the success of Puzo’s 1969 best-selling novel. With its powerful narrative, the Godfather film serves as a thought-provoking...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 14, 2021 | History
Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany, on March 14, 1879, and would become one of the most influential physicists in history. His theory of relativity, introduced in the early 20th century, reshaped how scientists understand the universe. His equation, E=mc²,...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 13, 2021 | History
Chester Greenwood invented his first prototype of earmuffs in 1873 at the age of 15. The earmuff became his most successful product, making him a well-known figure and quite wealthy. Earmuffs were officially patented on March 13, 1877. Chester Greenwood was born in...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 12, 2021 | History
History was made at Bristol Cathedral on March 12, 1994. For the first time in its 460-year history, the Church of England ordained women as priests. Thirty-two women, with unwavering courage, stepped forward, defying centuries of tradition, to claim their place at...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 11, 2021 | History
On a seemingly ordinary morning at Camp Funston, Kansas, on March 11, 1918, a sudden and deadly turn of events occurred. Soldiers, who had been going about their daily routines, were suddenly struck with fever, chills, and sore throats, and were rushed to the...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 10, 2021 | History
During Operation Meetinghouse on March 9-10, 1945, U.S. forces devastated Tokyo, resulting in the deaths of 100,000 civilians and the destruction of 16 square miles of the city. This significant loss considerably weakened Japan’s war efforts. By early 1945,...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 9, 2021 | History
The world recognizes Inter Milan as one of the most renowned historical football teams. On March 9, 1908, the team separated from the Milan Cricket and Football Club (now AC Milan) to form a new organization that suited international players, thus creating the...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 8, 2021 | History
On March 8, 1996, Fargo premiered in U.S. theaters, captivating audiences across the country. Directed and written by the Coen brothers, this dark comedy received exceptional critical acclaim. The film’s unique combination of crime, suspense, and deadpan humor...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 7, 2021 | History
On March 7, 1936, Adolf Hitler made a bold and dangerous move: He ordered 20,000 German troops to march into the Rhineland, a region that had been demilitarized under the Treaty of Versailles. This act violated the Versailles Treaty (1919) and the Locarno Treaties...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 6, 2021 | History
On March 6, 1899, the German pharmaceutical company Bayer secured a patent for acetylsalicylic acid, commonly known as Aspirin. This milestone began one of history’s most widely used drugs, transforming pain relief and modern medicine. Willow bark, high in...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 5, 2021 | History
Today in history marks the day when a tragic event unfolded on the streets of Boston, igniting the flames of revolution. On the evening of March 5, 1770, what began as a confrontation between an angry mob and a small group of Redcoats ended in a heartbreaking...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 4, 2021 | History
Following his successful presidential term, John Quincy Adams gained political power again when he won the election for the House of Representatives on March 4, 1830, and resumed public office. This was a significant event in American history, marking the first time a...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 3, 2021 | History
Alexander Graham Bell, a pioneer in communication technology, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 3, 1847. His groundbreaking inventions, including the telephone, revolutionized global communication, profoundly impacting the way we connect and communicate today....
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 2, 2021 | History
On March 2, 1807, the U.S. Congress took a significant step by passing the Act Prohibiting the Importation of Slaves. Although slavery itself remained legal, this law made it illegal to import enslaved people into the United States. It marked a critical moment in the...
by Matilda Cruz | Mar 1, 2021 | History
After eighteen successful years in baseball, Mickey Mantle announced his retirement from professional sports on March 1, 1969. This marked the end of a significant era for Yankees baseball and the sport as a whole, solidifying his status as a historical figure in...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 28, 2021 | History
On February 28, 1991, coalition forces brought the Gulf War. This momentous event marked a major military victory and a significant turning point in global politics and warfare strategy. The swift operation, characterized by advanced technology and international...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 27, 2021 | History
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born on February 27, 1807, in Portland, Massachusetts (now Maine). His family had no way of knowing that he would grow to become one of the most celebrated poets of the 19th century. Longfellow is best known for his verses, which shaped...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 26, 2021 | History
The Bank of England issued the first-ever £1 note on February 26, 1797. This event, spurred by the extraordinary circumstances of the era, marked a significant moment for British currency and financial practices. The late 18th century, amidst the turmoil of the French...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 25, 2021 | History
Millicent Fenwick, a woman ahead of her time, was born on February 25, 1910. Hailing from a wealthy tobacco family in New Jersey, she defied societal expectations and built a career focused on public service and advocacy. Known for her sharp wit, unwavering integrity,...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 24, 2021 | History
In the early hours of February 24, 1942, a wave of panic swept over Los Angeles. Searchlights pierced the night sky, anti-aircraft guns roared, and thousands of residents braced for an enemy attack. But when the smoke cleared, there was no wreckage, no enemy...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 23, 2021 | History
On February 23, 1904, the United States, demonstrating its engineering prowess, purchased the Panama Canal Zone for $10 million to construct the Panama Canal. After Panama’s independence in 1903, the United States secured control over a 10-mile-wide strip...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 22, 2021 | History
On February 22, 1967, Operation Junction City began, marking one of the most significant U.S. military operations during the Vietnam War. This ambitious offensive aimed to disrupt Viet Cong operations and destroy their bases in South Vietnam’s Tay Ninh Province....
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 21, 2021 | History
February 21, 1931, marked a groundbreaking moment in sports history—the first exhibition night baseball game was played in Houston, Texas. With the field illuminated by floodlights, fans witnessed a revolutionary way to experience one of America’s favorite pastimes....
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 20, 2021 | History
On February 20, 1872, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) opened to the public in New York City, marking the beginning of one of the most influential art institutions in the world. Founded to offer Americans art and educational experiences, the museum began its...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 19, 2021 | History
On February 19, 1878, Thomas Edison secured U.S. Patent No. 200521 for his groundbreaking invention of the Cylinder Phonograph. This development was critical in the history of audio technology as it created the world’s first sound recording and playback device....
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 18, 2021 | History
Mark Twain made history in American literature with the publication of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the United States on February 18, 1885. The book follows the journey of Huck Finn and Jim, a runaway enslaved man, as they sail down the Mississippi River....
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 17, 2021 | History
On February 17, 1938, pioneer Scottish inventor John Logie Baird demonstrated color television to the public during a London event. The event showcased television history’s subsequent development while demonstrating the potential for future broadcast...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 16, 2021 | History
February 16, 1959, marks a significant turning point in Cuban history. It was the date when Fulgencio Batista’s authoritarian regime was successfully overthrown. This regime was characterized by widespread corruption and repression, and its downfall set Cuba on...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 15, 2021 | History
The evening of February 15, 1933, was a dreary day for Americans. President-elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Miami, Florida, on this day in history. The event unfolded at Bayfront Park, where Roosevelt had just delivered a...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 14, 2021 | History
This historic day, February 14, 1849, marks a pivotal moment in both presidential and photographic history. It was the day when the first sitting President, James K. Polk, was ever photographed. This significant event was captured by Mathew Brady, a pioneering figure...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 13, 2021 | History
Today in history, on February 13, 1945, Allied forces began the first of four bombing raids on Dresden, Germany. Bombs were dropped through the 14th and 15th and again on March 2nd as part of Operation Thunderclap. While other cities in eastern Germany were included...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 12, 2021 | History
Today in history, a significant event unfolded on February 12, 1999, when President Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial concluded with his acquittal. After a five-week trial, the Senate fell short of the two-thirds majority vote required to convict on charges of...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 11, 2021 | History
On February 11, 1847, renowned inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Alva Edison was born in Milan, Ohio. He grew up in Port Huron, Michigan, alongside his six older siblings and was primarily home-schooled by his mother. At the age of 13, Edison began selling newspapers...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 10, 2021 | History
February 10, 1967, this day in history, marks a significant milestone in the United States’ journey. It was the day when the 25th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, a pivotal step in clarifying presidential succession and addressing issues of...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 9, 2021 | History
The attack on Pearl Harbor caught American forces off guard and unprepared for war, but it also showed their resilience. Despite the country’s initial desire to remain neutral and the military’s lack of practical combat experience, the battles that...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 8, 2021 | History
In its early days, the NFL was far from the well-oiled machine it is today. The league was often engulfed in chaos, especially during player recruitment. Teams engaged in a free-for-all, attempting to outbid each other, leading to frequent bidding wars. This chaotic...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 7, 2021 | History
Today in history marks the birth of Charles John Huffam Dickens. He was born on February 7, 1812, in Portsmouth, England, and would become one of the most celebrated novelists of the Victorian era. His early life was marked by hardship. At 12, Dickens was forced to...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 6, 2021 | History
On February 6, 1921, Charlie Chaplin introduced the world to The Kid, his first full-length silent film. This film was more than just a comedy; it somehow combined humor and heartbreak, greatly influencing the growth of the movie industry and the world of cinema. It...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 5, 2021 | History
The United States of America, the most populated country in the Western Hemisphere and the third most populated country in the world achieved this status through explosive population growth during the twentieth century. A significant moment in this growth was on...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 4, 2021 | History
On February 4, 1985, the international community took a historic step toward eradicating one of humanity’s gravest abuses. The United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) was signed, marking a...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 3, 2021 | History
On February 3, 1931, at 10:47 a.m., New Zealand experienced its deadliest natural disaster. A powerful earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, devastated the Hawke’s Bay region on the North Island. The quake leveled cities, claimed numerous lives, and...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 2, 2021 | History
The Nutcracker, choreographed by George Balanchine, premiered at the New York City Ballet (NYCB) on February 2, 1954. This debut significantly changed the course of American ballet. It showcased Balanchine’s artistic genius and established the ballet as a...
by Matilda Cruz | Feb 1, 2021 | History
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) was established on February 1, 1884, marking a significant shift in our understanding of English. Its creation represented a monumental effort, combining scholarship, ambition, and perseverance. The Birth of a Dictionary In 1857,...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 31, 2021 | History
Eddie Slovik, a man who never wanted to go to war, found himself drafted into the army against his will. His criminal record, which initially led to him being classified as 4-F and excused from the draft, was not enough to spare him. The army, in desperate need of...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 30, 2021 | History
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born in a prominent family on January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York. He graduated from Harvard University and studied law at Columbia before starting his political career in the New York State Senate. He served as Assistant Secretary...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 29, 2021 | History
William McKinley was born in Niles, Ohio, on January 29, 1843. He grew up in a large family of 9 children to two immigrant parents. His family lived a modest lifestyle, and McKinley worked various jobs during his youth to help his family out. McKinley began his...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 28, 2021 | History
On January 28, 1915, the United States Congress enacted the Coast Guard Act, a significant piece of legislation to enhance maritime safety and law enforcement. This act arose from an increasing demand for a coordinated response to maritime emergencies and the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 27, 2021 | History
On January 27, 1967, a tragic fire broke out in the Apollo 1 spacecraft during a pre-launch test on the launch pad at Cape Kennedy Air Force Station in Florida. The incident claimed the lives of three American astronauts: Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Edward H....
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 26, 2021 | History
On January 26, 1788, the British First Fleet, under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, established a penal colony at Sydney Cove, marking the beginning of European settlement in Australia. On January 26, 1788, a pivotal historical moment unfolded as the British...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 25, 2021 | History
São Paulo, Brazil, a city that was founded almost 500 years ago, on January 25, 1554, has a story of resilience and growth. Today, it is the largest city in the southern hemisphere, but its beginnings were humble. It started as a small native settlement with a...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 24, 2021 | History
On January 24, 1984, one of the most unusual and highly discussed commercials debuted during the Super Bowl: Apple’s “1984” ad. In reality, if it weren’t for a bold act of corporate defiance, this ad might have been entirely buried and...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 23, 2021 | History
On January 23, 1978, Sweden made environmental history by becoming the first country to ban aerosol sprays. This trailblazing decision was prompted by growing evidence that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in aerosol products actively damaged the ozone layer. Sweden’s...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 22, 2021 | History
On January 22, 1901, the United Kingdom mourned the conclusion of a transformative reign with the death of Queen Victoria. She was the second-longest reigning monarch in British history, and her passing at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight marked the end of the...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 21, 2021 | History
On January 21, 1793, King Louis XVI of France was executed by guillotine in a public square in Paris. This momentous event occurred during the height of the French Revolution, a time of intense social and political upheaval in France. The revolutionary government,...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 20, 2021 | History
On January 20, 1936, King George V of England passed away, concluding a 25-year reign that had seen the British Empire navigate World War I and significant societal change. His reign, marked by his steadfast dedication and efforts to strengthen the monarchy, was an...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 19, 2021 | History
On January 19, 1809, a renowned literary figure was born in Boston, Massachusetts: Edgar Allan Poe. His life was marked by tragedy, including the early deaths of both parents, but also by brilliance, evident in his significant literary contributions. Poe’s...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 18, 2021 | History
On January 18, 1980, Pink Floyd’s album The Wall reached #1 on the Billboard charts, solidifying its status as a rock classic. This concept album explores themes of isolation and rebellion, captivating audiences worldwide with hits like “Another Brick in...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 17, 2021 | History
On January 17, 1942, the world welcomed a legend. Born Cassius Clay, Muhammad Ali redefined boxing and inspired millions through his prowess and fearless activism. Celebrate the life and legacy of “The Greatest,” who taught us to fight not just in sports...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 16, 2021 | History
On January 16, 1936, Hollywood’s landscape would change forever with the incorporation of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). This pivotal moment formalized the efforts of actors to protect their rights and improve working conditions in an industry booming with opportunity...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 15, 2021 | History
On January 15, 1870, a political cartoonist transformed an unassuming farm animal into an enduring symbol of the Democratic Party. Thomas Nast first used the donkey to represent the Democrats in Harper’s Weekly. The cartoon, titled “A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 14, 2021 | History
On January 14, 1892, the world welcomed Hal Roach, a man who would shape the golden age of comedy. As a film producer and director, Roach brought joy to millions through iconic works like Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang. Roach’s genius lay in his ability to blend...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 13, 2021 | History
January 13, 1888, marks the momentous day that a great group of scholars, explorers, and scientists got together in Washington, D.C., and officially established the National Geographic Society. Their mission: “the increase and diffusion of geographic...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 12, 2021 | History
On January 12, 2010, Haiti experienced one of the deadliest natural disasters in its history. A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, leaving 160,000 people dead and millions homeless. This tragedy devastated a nation and sparked global humanitarian...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 10, 2021 | History
January 10, 1984, marks the day that the United States and the Vatican reestablished diplomatic relations, ending a 116-year hiatus. This milestone marked a significant shift in the relationship between the world’s most powerful democracy and the smallest independent...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 10, 2021 | History
On January 11, 1964, U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry released a groundbreaking report titled “Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service.” This monumental document, the result of an extensive...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 9, 2021 | History
Today in history, on January 9, 2007, Apple announced the first iPhone at the MacWorld Conference in San Francisco. CEO Steve Jobs presented the company’s first smartphone as a “revolutionary and magical product.” The iPhone had secretly been in...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 8, 2021 | History
Today in history, on January 8, 1935, famous singer Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. The boy who would one day be known as the “King of Rock and Roll” was born to Gladys and Vernon Presley, with a twin brother who was stillborn 35 minutes...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 7, 2021 | History
On January 7, 1782, the Bank of North America officially opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, becoming the first commercial bank in the United States. The Revolutionary War had left the American colonies in a state of financial turmoil. The Continental Congress...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 6, 2021 | History
On January 6, 1412, a baby girl was born in the small village of Domrémy in northeastern France. This girl, Joan of Arc, would one day change history. A peasant with an unshakeable belief in her divine mission, she became one of France’s most enduring symbols of...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 5, 2021 | History
On January 5, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon announced the development of NASA’s Space Shuttle program, marking a significant shift in U.S. space exploration. This initiative aimed to create a reusable spacecraft system, making access to space more attainable...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 4, 2021 | History
On January 4, 1809, in the charming French village of Coupvray, a child who would go on to change the world for millions of visually impaired individuals was born. Through his resilience and creativity, Louis Braille developed a tactile reading and writing system now...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 3, 2021 | History
On January 3, 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially admitted Alaska as the 49th state of the United States. Alaska had previously been a territory, and its citizens had been seeking statehood for many years. The strategic importance of the land became...
by Matilda Cruz | Jan 1, 2021 | History
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation officially went into effect, declaring freedom for enslaved individuals in Confederate states. While it did not end slavery entirely, this landmark act transformed the purpose of the Civil...
