History: 1st Person to Jump with a Parachute In 1779, the parachute had its "world premiere" when French balloonist André-Jacques Garnerin jumped out of a balloon over Parc Monceau in Paris using a silk parachute that he made himself. Inquiries…
History: Robert Rauschenberg is born in 1925 On this day in 1925, today, American painter and graphic artist, Robert Rauschenberg, was born in Port Arthur, Texas. He studied art in Kansas (1946-1947), Paris (1947), and at Black Mountain College 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 application for…
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 in the…
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. In 1938,…
History: Alaska formally became 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 not seen…
History: The first Oktoberfest in 1810 On this day in 1810, the very first Oktoberfest took place. The festivities lasted five days and were organized around the wedding of the Bavarian Crown Prince. It was the first non-religious folk festival…
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: Mauzan born in 1883 Achille Lucien Mauzan was born on the French Riviera but moved to Italy in 1905. He was known as a decorative illustrator, though he also painted and sculpted. After studying at the Ecole…