QuickTips Index
1927 - Babe Ruth Makes Home-Run Record
On September 30, 1927, in the second-to-last game of the season, Babe Ruth hit his 60th home run in a single season, making a new record that lasted for 34 years.
1918 - The Spanish Flu Pandemic
In 1918, the garden-variety flu mutated into a deadly virus. This new, lethal virus, which became known as the Spanish flu, swept around the world in three waves, killing an estimated 50 million to 100 million people (the equivalent to 2.7 to 5.5 percent of the world's population).
1972 - MASH T.V. Show Premiers
The first episode of the extremely popular TV series MASH aired on CBS on September 17, 1972.
1918 Spanish Flu Children's Rhyme
When the Spanish flu killed millions of people around the world in 1918, it affected everyone. While the adults walked around wearing masks, children skipped rope to this rhyme.
1981 - First Woman Appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court
On September 25, 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor officially became the first woman to be a judge on the U.S. Supreme Court.
1958 - LEGO Toy Bricks First Introduced
For over half a century, the small, plastic bricks known as LEGO have sparked the imagination of children around the world. Discover the history of LEGO toys.
1969 - Neil Armstrong Becomes the First Man on the Moon
On July 20, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong exited the lunar module, nicknamed Eagle, and stepped foot on the surface of the moon to become the very first man on the moon.
Did Neil Armstrong Flub His Line When First Stepping on the Moon?
When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon on July 20, 1969, he made the famous statement, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Was that what he had planned to say? Did he flub his line?
1978 - Jonestown Massacre
On November 18, 1978, Peoples Temple cult leader Jim Jones instructed his followers to commit "revolutionary suicide" by drinking cyanide-laced fruit punch.
1974 - Terracotta Army Discovered in China
On March 29, 1974, three farmers stumbled upon one of the greatest archaeological finds of the twentieth century - the discovery of Qin Shihuangdi's ancient terracotta army.
1958 - Peace Symbol Created
The peace symbol, the circle with three lines within it, was originally designed in 1958 by British artist Gerald Holtom. Learn more about the history of the peace symbol.
1969 - Rock-and-Roll Concert at Woodstock
From August 15-18, 1969, 500,000 young people from across the United States converged on Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York. They were there to listen to the best rock 'n roll of the time at the Woodstock Festival of 1969.
What Was Gorbachev's Policy of Glasnost?
Glasnost, which translates to openness in English, was General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev's policy for a new, open policy in the Soviet Union where people could freely express their opinions.
What Was Gorbachev's Policy of Perestroika?
Perestroika, which in English translates to "restructuring," was General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev's program to restructure the Soviet economy in an attempt to revitalize it.
1989 - The Fall of the Berlin Wall
On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall came down. It was a sudden and surprising end to the Berlin Wall's 28-year history.
1961 - Berlin Wall Built
Just past midnight during the night of August 12-13, 1961, East German soldiers and construction workers headed to the border of West and East Berlin. While most Berliners were sleeping, the workers quickly constructed a barrier made of concrete posts and barbed wire along the border.
E.T. Movie Released
The movie E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial was a hit from the day it was released (June 11, 1982) and quickly became one of the most beloved movies of all time.
1952 - The Great Smog
From December 5-9, 1952, a deadly smog hovered over London, which eventually killed 12,000 people.
The Great Smog of 1952
When a thick fog engulfed London from December 5 to December 9, 1952, it mixed with black smoke emitted from homes and factories to create a deadly smog. This smog killed approximately 12,000 people and shocked the world into starting the environmental movement.
Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt Disappears
After going for a swim at Cheviot Beach near Melbourne, Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared on December 17, 1967. While the most likely scenario is that he drowned in the rough sea, conspiracy theories abound regarding the cause of his disappearance.
George Washington's Second Inaugural Address
On March 4, 1793, George Washington gave his second inaugural address in the Senate Chamber of Congress Hall in Philadelphia. It remains the shortest inaugural address in history with only 135 words.
1901 - U.S. President William McKinley Assassinated
At 4:07 p.m. on September 6, 1901, Leon Czolgosz shot U.S. President William McKinley twice. Although many expected the President to recover after having emergency surgery, President McKinley died at 2:15 a.m. on September 14, 1901 from gangrene.
Poem by Bonnie Parker Called "The Story of Suicide Sal"
Bonnie Parker wrote two poems while she and Clyde Barrow were on the run from the law. This poem, the Story of Suicide Sal, was the first of the two. It was written by Bonnie while she was held in the Kaufman jail in spring 1932. The poem was published in newspapers after it was found during the raid on Bonnie and Clyde's hideout in Joplin, Missouri on April 13, 1933.
Poem by Bonnie Parker Called "The Story of Bonnie and Clyde"
Bonnie Parker wrote two poems while she and Clyde Barrow were on the run from the law. This poem, the Story of Bonnie and Clyde, was the second of the two. It was written by Bonnie while she and Clyde were running from the law. Bonnie gave a copy of the poem to her mother just weeks before she and Clyde were gunned down.
Clyde Barrow Wrote a Letter to Henry Ford
On April 10, 1934, Clyde Barrow wrote a letter to Henry Ford thanking him for the wonderful cars he builds. Learn more about the letter and why cars were so important to Clyde.