South Africa hosted the opening match of the first FIFA World Cup ever held in Africa
The tournament was celebrated as a milestone for the continent and defied skeptics who doubted Africa could host such a massive event. The distinctive...
June 11 in History
Significant events that happened on this day.
Historical Events
2010
1993
Steven Spielberg's 'Jurassic Park' opened in theaters and started a dinosaur craze
The groundbreaking CGI and animatronics revolutionized special effects and made dinosaurs cool again for a new generation. Children's interest in pale...
1982
Steven Spielberg's 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' was released in theaters
The film became a cultural phenomenon and the highest-grossing movie of the 1980s. Spielberg reportedly cried every day during the final week of filmi...
1962
Three inmates escaped from Alcatraz prison and were never seen again
Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin used spoons to dig through their cell walls, created dummy heads with real hair, and paddled away o...
1947
The first tubeless automobile tire was introduced by B.F. Goodrich
This innovation eliminated the inner tube, making tires lighter, more reliable, and less prone to blowouts. The tire could seal itself around small pu...
1919
Sir Barton became the first horse to win the Triple Crown
The three-year-old thoroughbred won the Belmont Stakes, completing his sweep of American horse racing's most prestigious races. Ironically, the term '...
1895
The first U.S. patent for a gasoline-powered automobile was granted to Charles Duryea
MajorDuryea beat out dozens of other inventors racing to patent the automobile. His single-cylinder motor wagon had successfully completed a test drive in...
1776
The Continental Congress formed a committee to draft the Articles of Confederation
MajorThis committee created America's first constitution, establishing a loose confederation of states. The Articles proved too weak and were replaced by t...
1770
Captain James Cook ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef and nearly lost his ship
The HMS Endeavour struck coral and began taking on water rapidly. Cook's crew worked frantically for 23 hours, throwing cannons and cargo overboard to...
1509
Henry VIII married Catherine of Aragon in his first of six marriages
MajorThe 17-year-old king married his brother's widow in a lavish ceremony at Greenwich. This marriage would later spark the English Reformation when Henry...