In the summer of 1513, the muddy plains near Guinegate, in the borderlands of Artois, became the stage for one of the more unusual English victories of the early Tudor period. Known as the Battle of the Spurs—a name coined in sly mockery of…
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On August 16, 1858, a monumental event in the history of communication took place when U.S. President James Buchanan and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom exchanged greetings over the newly laid transatlantic telegraph cable. This achievement marked the first time that two continents…
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On August 15, 1954, Americans got their first ever copy of their new favorite magazine, Sports Illustrated. The initial cover photo snapped by Mark Kauffman on June 9, 1954 showed Milwaukee Braves slugger Eddie Mathews taking a swing against the New York Giants while…
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In the waning light of a summer’s afternoon on August 15, 1824, a crowd of unprecedented size pressed against the wharves of New York Harbor, eyes fixed upon the stately vessel Cadmus as church bells rang to welcome a hero. On its deck stood…
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On August 15, 1914, the world witnessed a monumental achievement in engineering and global trade with the official opening of the Panama Canal. The first vessel to navigate this vital new passage was the SS Ancon, a cargo ship that would forever be remembered…
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On August 15, 1935, one of the brightest flames in American film and radio was suddenly snuffed out. Renowned for his wit, humor, and versatility, Will Rogers had endeared himself to millions as a vaudeville performer, film actor, radio personality, and prolific newspaper columnist.…
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On the night of August 14, 1791, deep in the forested hills of northern Saint-Domingue—the French colony that was the richest sugar producer in the world—a group of enslaved Africans gathered in secrecy for a Vodou ceremony at a place called Bois Caïman (“Alligator…
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On August 14, 1920, the world saw the unveiling of a symbol that would become synonymous with global unity and peaceful competition: the Olympic flag. Introduced during the VII Olympiad in Antwerp, Belgium, the flag was more than just a new emblem for the…
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On August 14, 1880, builders placed the final touches on the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, completing a project that took over 630 years to finish. With the final stone laid, the cathedral became the tallest building in the world, a title it held until…
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On the night of August 13, 1906, the small border town of Brownsville, Texas, became the stage for one of the most notorious miscarriages of justice in U.S. military history. The 25th Infantry Regiment—an all-Black unit with a distinguished service record—had been stationed at…
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