Today in History: Thomas Edison invents a commercially practical incandescent light On this day in 1879, Thomas Edison invented a commercially practical incandescent light at his industrial research lab in Menlo Park, New Jersey. Edison had filed his first patent…
Today in History: Monterey Bay Aquarium opens in 1984 On this day in 1984, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world opens in Monterey Bay, California. Among its many "firsts," it is the only aquarium…
Today in History: Peter Max born in 1937 Happy Birthday, Peter Max! Peter Max (born Peter Max Finkelstein in Berlin) is a pop culture graphic artist known for his psychedelic style of painting and the use of bright, vibrant colors.…
Today in History: Alaska formally becomes part of the USA in 1867 The United States had purchased the large and sparsely populated territory of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, or less than two cents an acre. The purchase was…
Today is National Liqueur Day A liqueur is a strong alcoholic beverage that has been sweetened with herbs, fruits, nuts, cream, or spices. Liqueurs are traditionally served as after-dinner drinks or mixed with coffee. The word “liqueur” comes from the…
History: The Walt Disney Company is founded in 1923 A leader in the international entertainment industry, the company was created by brothers Walt and Roy as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. Today, the company is synonymous with cartoons and animated…
Today in History: First Olympic Games in Asia in 1964 On this day in 1964, the 18th modern Olympic Games opened in Tokyo. It was the first time that the Games were hosted by an Asian country. Tokyo was originally…
Today in History: John Lennon born in 1940 On this day in 1940, the musician, songwriter and front man of the Beatles was born in Liverpool, England. John Lennon met Paul McCartney in 1957 when he invited him to join…
Today in History: Great Chicago fire of 1871 The fire that destroyed most of Chicago’s business district began in a barn on the evening of October 8, 1871. A very dry summer and early autumn fanned the fire, which raged…
Today in History: La Moulin Rouge opened its doors in 1889 On this day in 1889, the French cabaret Moulin Rouge opened its doors on the Boulevard Clichy in the Montmartre district of Paris. The venue was famous for its…