On October 22, 1844, nothing happened. It was a typical day in the United States, but for tens of thousands of followers of William Miller, a Baptist preacher in Massachusetts, the day was the most disappointing day of their lives because that was supposed…
Read MoreOn October 20, 1944, General Douglas MacArthur made good on his promise and waded ashore on Leyte Island in the Philippines. Nearly three years prior, the charismatic general had been forced to leave the islands after the Japanese invasion, but he made a promise…
Read MoreIn the midst of a chilly and overcast day on October 18, 1867, “Seward’s Folly” finally came to completion. Now celebrated every year as Alaska Day, the date commemorates a pivotal moment in the history of the United States and the far northern frontier…
Read MoreOn October 15, 1878, Thomas Edison, America’s greatest inventor, went into business. His new company The Edison Electric Light Company, played a pivotal role in the development and commercialization of electric lighting technology in the late 19th century. Edison had been working on electric…
Read MoreOn October 14, 1947, in the Bell X-1 rocket-powered aircraft, Chuck Yeager did something no one had ever done before. He flew faster than the speed of sound, reaching a speed of Mach 1.06, approximately 700 miles per hour. This achievement, which took place…
Read MoreOn October 13, 1269, Westminster Abbey was consecrated after the completion of Lady Chapel. This beautiful chapel, with its remarkable gothic architecture and intricate stained glass windows, has been a focal point for prayer, reflection, and religious ceremonies for centuries. The consecration marked a…
Read MoreOn October 11, 1975, Americans began laughing on Saturday nights. Saturday Night Live (SNL) made its television debut on NBC. Created by Lorne Michaels, the concept of the show was to provide a platform for the best comedic talent of the time to showcase…
Read MoreOn October 10, 1845, the United States Naval School opened in Annapolis, Maryland, with 50 midshipmen students and seven professors. The curriculum included mathematics and navigation, gunnery and steam, chemistry, English, natural philosophy, and French. “When the founders of the United States Naval Academy…
Read MoreOn October 9, 1635, the leaders of Massachusetts Bay Colony had finally had enough of one rabble-rouser, Roger Williams, and threw him out of their colony. His crime? He believed that people should have the freedom to worship however they pleased and strongly supported…
Read MoreOn October 8, 1956, Don Larsen made baseball history and became a legend. In game 5 of the World Series, the Yankees pitcher threw the only perfect game to ever occur in the Fall Classic, blanking the Brooklyn Dodgers. Larsen, writes the Baseball Hall of Fame,…
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