Today in History: The Man on the Moon On this day in 1969, 240,000 miles (380,000 km) away from Earth, at precisely 10:56 pm (EDT), during one of the most widely-viewed live broadcasts in television history, American astronaut, Neil Armstrong,…
Today in History: First Mars Landing in 1976 After nearly a year of flight time, Viking I became the first American spacecraft to successfully land on Mars. Less than a month later, the Viking II also reached the red planet.…
Today in History: "Degenerate Art" exhibitions opens in 1937 On this day in 1937, the infamous Degenerate Art (Entartete Kunst) exhibition in Munich, Germany. Organized by Adolf Ziegler and the Nazi Party, the exhibition presented some 650 paintings, sculptures and…
Today in History: Lithography was invented in 1798 On this day in 1798, German author Alois Senefelder invented the lithographic printing method (from the Greek, "stone printing"). Looking for an inexpensive method for copying his manuscripts, Senefelder was experimenting with…
Today is National Lottery Day If you’re feeling extra lucky on July 17th, it might be because it’s National Lottery Day! Celebrate the way lotteries contribute to local and state programs. Historically, lotteries date back to the 15th century. While…
Today is National Ice Cream Day National Ice Cream Day was established under President Ronald Reagan in 1984 and is observed each year on the 3rd Sunday in July as part of National Ice Cream Month. Could there be any…
Today in History: First documenta opened in 1955 On this day in 1955, the documenta in Kassel, Germany, opened its doors for the first time. The documenta is perhaps one of the most important cyclically recurring exhibitions for modern and…
Today in History: Washington DC declared capital of the United States On this day in 1790, the young American Congress declares that a swampy, humid, muddy and mosquito-infested site on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia will be the…
Today in History: Ford Company takes its first order in 1903 On this day in 1903, the newly formed Ford Motor Company takes its first order for a two-cylinder Model A automobile. The buyer, a dentist in Chicago, paid $850…
Today is Bastille Day! Bastille Day is a national holiday in France, celebrated annually on July 14. It is quite similar to the Independence Day festivities in the United States. The Bastille was a stronghold built in Paris in the…