Spain became the third country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage
The Spanish parliament passed legislation allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry and adopt children, following the Netherlands and Belgium. Despite...
July 3 in History
Significant events that happened on this day.
Historical Events
2005
1996
Boris Yeltsin became the first democratically elected president of Russia to win a second term
Despite trailing in polls and suffering from serious health issues, Yeltsin defeated Communist challenger Gennady Zyuganov in a runoff election. The v...
1985
Back to the Future premiered in theaters and became a cultural phenomenon
The time-travel comedy starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd opened nationwide and went on to become the highest-grossing film of the year. It...
1971
Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, was found dead in a Paris bathtub at age 27
The rock icon's death remains shrouded in mystery, with no autopsy performed and conflicting accounts of what happened. Morrison joined the infamous "...
1938
A steam locomotive set the world speed record for steam-powered rail at 126 mph in England
The LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard achieved the record-breaking speed on the East Coast Main Line, a record that still stands today. The achievement came...
1928
The first color television transmission was demonstrated in London
John Logie Baird successfully transmitted the first color TV images using a mechanical system with red, green, and blue filters. While the images were...
1898
Joshua Slocum completed the first solo circumnavigation of the globe by sailboat
The Canadian-American sailor arrived in Newport, Rhode Island, after a three-year journey covering over 46,000 miles in his 37-foot sloop Spray. Remar...
1886
Karl Benz officially unveiled the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the world's first practical automobile
MajorThe three-wheeled vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine made its public debut in Mannheim, Germany. This invention revolutionized transport...
1608
French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City in Canada
MajorChamplain established a fur trading post along the St. Lawrence River that would become one of North America's oldest cities. The settlement served as...