History: 1st Commercial Jet Test Flight in 1949 On July 27, 1949, the British De Havilland Comet became the world's first jet-propelled airliner to make a test flight in England. This aircraft significantly impacted the airline industry by enabling faster…
History: 1st U.S. Railroad Accident The first recorded railroad accident in US history occurred on July 25, 1832, on the Granite Railway in Quincy, Massachusetts. Four individuals invited to observe stone transport were thrown from a vacant car when a…
History: March of the PenguinsOn this day in 2005, March of the Penguins, a French-made documentary about emperor penguins in Antarctica, opens in theaters across the U.S. March of the Penguins went on to win numerous awards, including an Oscar,…
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…
History: Disneyland opening in 1955 On this day in 1955, the "happiest place on earth" opened its doors to the public. On opening day, some 60,000 people visited the park. Admission on July 17, 1955 was $1. After several years…
History: Washington DC declared capital of the United States On this day in 1790, Congress selected a swampy, humid site on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia as the nation’s permanent capital. Washington, in the newly designated District of…
History: First successful Matterhorn ascent in 1865 In 1865, the Matterhorn (4,478 m, 14,692 ft) was first successfully ascended by Edward Whymper and his team of mountaineers, Michel Croz, Lord Francis Douglas, Charles Hudson, Douglas Hadow, and the two Zermatt guides, Peter Taugwalder father and son…
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…
History: Happy Birthday, Paris Happy Birthday, Paris! On this day in 1951, Paris celebrated turning 2,000 years old. But it is likely that the City of Lights was already founded around 250 B.C. Paris is home to some 2 million…
History: First UEFA European Nations Cup (now UEFA Euro) in 1960 The first European soccer championship opened in France in 1960. The event is held every four years in the even-numbered year between the World Cup tournaments. In 1960, 4…