April 15 in History

The 856-year-old Gothic masterpiece's wooden roof and iconic spire were destroyed in the blaze, likely caused by electrical issues or a cigarette duri... see more

Inspired by the New York City Marathon, organizers were shocked when 20,000 people applied for what they thought would be a small event. Norwegian run... see more

After an oxygen tank exploded two days into the mission, the crew had to use the lunar module as a lifeboat and loop around the moon to get home. The... see more

This wasn't the first McDonald's ever, but it was the first franchised location that would become the template for the global empire. Kroc had been im... see more

After successful testing, Eli Lilly began large-scale production of insulin, transforming diabetes from a death sentence into a manageable condition.... see more

Inspired by the marathon at the first modern Olympics in 1896, the race began in Ashland and ended in Boston. New York's John J. McDermott won with a... see more

Just two years after the Gold Rush began, the booming settlement officially became a city. Its population had exploded from about 1,000 to 25,000 in j... see more

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc founded what is now known as the American School for the Deaf. Clerc, who was deaf himself, brought French... see more

Charles Wesley wrote the original lyrics, though they were quite different from what we sing today. The familiar tune was added over a century later b... see more