Today in History

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1701 – William Kidd, popularly known as Captain Kidd, is hanged for piracy and murder (More info) 1911 – The New York Public Library is dedicated (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1906 – The Wright brothers are granted a US patent for their “Flying Machine” (More info) 1947 – The Truman Doctrine provides aid to Greece and Turkey in an effort to combat the spread of Communism (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1881 – The American Red Cross is founded (More info) 1927 – Charles Lindbergh completes the world’s first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean in his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1804 – Napoleon Bonaparte is proclaimed Emperor of the French (More info) 1896 – The US Supreme Court rules in Plessy v. Ferguson that “separate but equal” is constitutional (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1928 – Mickey Mouse premieres in his first cartoon, ‘Plane Crazy’ (More info) 1940 – McDonald’s opens its first restaurant in San Bernardino, Calif. (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1804 – The Lewis and Clark Expedition begins its historic journey (More info) 1904 – St. Louis, Mo. hosts the first Olympic Games in the United States (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1863 – Confederate General Stonewall Jackson dies, eight days after being accidentally shot by his own troops (More info) 1869 – The First Transcontinental Railroad, linking the eastern and western US, is completed with the driving in of a golden spike in Promontory Summit, UT (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1914 – Mother’s Day becomes a public holiday (More info) 1962 – The Beatles sign their first recording contract and hire George Martin to be their producer (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1877 – The first Westminster Dog Show is held (More info) 1902 – On the Caribbean island of Martinique, Mount Pelee erupts, destroying the town of St. Pierre and killing nearly 40,000 people (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1718 – New Orleans, Louisiana (first named La Nouvelle-Orléans) was founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville (More info) 1824 – Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, famous for its ‘Ode to Joy’ melody, debuts in Vienna (More info)