The Space Shuttle Columbia launched on its final mission, unaware of fatal damage
MajorColumbia lifted off for what would be its 28th and final flight, carrying seven astronauts on a 16-day science mission. During launch, a piece of foam...
Historical Events
2003
2001
Wikipedia was launched, beginning the free encyclopedia anyone could edit
MajorJimmy Wales and Larry Sanger created what would become the world's largest and most-accessed reference work, with the radical idea that anyone could c...
1991
The Gulf War began with Operation Desert Storm
MajorCoalition forces launched massive air strikes against Iraq after Saddam Hussein refused to withdraw from Kuwait. The operation began at 2:38 AM Baghda...
1979
The Unabomber attacked a Northwestern University student with a mail bomb
Theodore Kaczynski's second attack injured a student in a dorm room, beginning an 18-year campaign of terror. The homemade bomb was disguised as a pac...
1979
The Shah of Iran fled the country, paving the way for the Islamic Revolution
MajorMohammad Reza Pahlavi left Iran for Egypt after months of protests and strikes, ending over 2,500 years of monarchy in Persia. He would never return,...
1969
A Czech student set himself on fire in protest of the Soviet invasion
Jan Palach, a 20-year-old philosophy student, self-immolated in Wenceslas Square, Prague, protesting the end of the Prague Spring reforms. He died thr...
1969
Two Soviet spacecraft performed the first docking between manned vehicles in orbit
Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 successfully docked in space, allowing cosmonauts to transfer between vehicles via spacewalk. This was a crucial step in developin...
1957
Three B-52 bombers completed the first non-stop around-the-world flight
Operation Power Flite saw three U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers circle the globe in 45 hours and 19 minutes, covering over 24,000 miles. Th...
1926
The first book club, the Book of the Month Club, was founded in America
Harry Scherman created a revolutionary new way to sell books by mailing selections directly to subscribers each month. The club democratized access to...
1920
Prohibition began in the United States, making alcohol illegal nationwide
MajorThe 18th Amendment went into effect, banning the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages across America. The 'noble experiment' w...
1919
The 18th Amendment was ratified, setting the stage for Prohibition
MajorNebraska became the 36th state to ratify the constitutional amendment banning alcohol, reaching the required three-quarters majority. The amendment wo...
1909
Ernest Shackleton's expedition found the location of the Magnetic South Pole
Members of Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition reached the Magnetic South Pole in Antarctica after a grueling 122-mile journey. The team planted a British...
1883
The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act was signed, ending the spoils system
President Chester A. Arthur signed legislation that required government jobs to be awarded based on merit rather than political connections. The law w...
1547
Ivan the Terrible was crowned the first Tsar of Russia at age 16
MajorIvan IV became the first ruler to be crowned as Tsar of all Russia in an elaborate ceremony at the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow. His reign would lat...