Articles Index
Kent State Shootings
On May 4, 1970, Ohio National Guardsmen fired upon an already dispersed crowd of student protesters, killing four and wounding nine others, at Kent State.
Fala: FDR's Favorite Pet
Fala, a cute, black Scottish terrier, was President Franklin D. Roosevelt's constant companion in the last years of his life. Learn more about Fala, including how he became FDR's pet and what happened to Fala once President Roosevelt died.
1933 - Assassination Attempt on Franklin D. Roosevelt
On February 15, 1933, Giuseppe Zangara shot five bullets at President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Bayfront Park in Miama, Florida. Although all the bullets missed FDR, one did mortally wound Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak.
The Bataan Death March
On April 9, 1942, the Battle of Bataan ended with the surrender of 72,000 American and Filipino soldiers to the Japanese. The attempt to transfer these POWs resulted in the bloody Bataan Death March. Learn more about the Bataan Death March.
The Kursk
On August 12, 2000, the Russian Oscar-II class nuclear submarine, the Kursk, sank in the Barents Sea during naval exercises. The world watched and waited to find out if any of the 118 crew were still alive.
The Invention of Bubble Gum
Chewing gum has a history that spans as far back as the ancient Greeks; however, bubble gum, a type of chewing gum that allows the chewer to make bubbles, has a much more recent history. Find out who invented bubble gum and why it has that pink color.
The First Peanuts Cartoon Strip
The very first Peanuts comic strip, written by Charles M. Schulz, appeared in seven newspapers on October 2, 1950.
Pluto Discovered
On February 18, 1930, Clyde W. Tombaugh, an assistant at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, discovered Pluto. For over seven decades, Pluto was considered the ninth planet of our solar system.
1903 - First Silent Movie: The Great Train Robbery
Produced by Thomas Edison but directed and filmed by Edison Company employee Edwin S. Porter, The Great Train Robbery was the first narrative movie, one that told a story. Learn more about the film that set the standard for the future of movie production.
Teddy Roosevelt Simplifies Spelling
In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt directed the Government Printing Office to change the spelling of 300 specific words in all executive correspondence. In so doing, Roosevelt was supporting a new movement of simplified spelling. However, many were very unhappy with this change.
The First Crossword Puzzle
On December 12, 1913, the very first crossword puzzle, created by Arthur Wynne, was published in the New York World newspaper.
The Tunguska Event
At 7:14 a.m. on June 30, 1908, a giant explosion shook central Siberia. The explosion caused a magnitude 5.0 earthquake and leveled 80 million trees. Although many believe a meteor caused the blast, no crater or pieces of meteorite have yet been found. What happened in Tunguska?
The First Assassination Attempt on Mussolini
On April 7, 1926, Italian Fascist leader Benito Mussolini had just given a speech in Rome to the International Congress of Surgeons when a bullet nearly ended his life. Find out more about this near miss by Violet Gibson.
Dr. Spock's "The Common Book of Baby and Child Care" Is Published
Dr. Benjamin Spock's revolutionary book about how to raise children was first published on July 14, 1946. The book, The Common Book of Baby and Child Care, has become one of the best-selling non-fiction books of all time. Find out more about Dr. Spock and the book that made him famous.
The Twist
The Twist, a dance done by swiveling the hips, became a worldwide dance craze in the early 1960s. Find out who invented it, who made it popular, and how to do it.
1926 - A.A. Milne Publishes Winnie-the-Pooh
With the first publication of the children's book Winnie-the-Pooh on October 14, 1926, the world was introduced to some of the most popular fictional characters of the twentieth century - Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore. The second collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stories, The House at Pooh Corner, appeared on bookshelves just two years later and introduced the character Tigger. Since then, the books have been published worldwide in over twenty languages.
What Did Rosa Parks Do?
What did Rosa Parks do? Rosa parks sparked the Civil Rights Movement when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man on December 1, 1955. Find out more about why Rosa Parks is famous.
Hoover Flags
When the Great Depression hit America, many people blamed U.S. President Herbert Hoover for their problems. As part of their frustration, people used Hoover's name when coming up with negative nicknames, such as Hoover flags, for things that represented the Great Depression. Learn more about these nicknames.
Rosa Parks Refuses to Give Up Her Bus Seat
Rosa Parks was on her way home from work on December 1, 1955 when the bus driver asked her to give up her seat for a new white passenger. Rosa Parks refused. Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and is considered the beginning of the modern Civil Rights Movement.
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.
Pac-Man
In 1980, Pac-Man was released, changing video games forever. Find out who invented Pac-Man and what pizza had to do with it. Also discover what's on the final screen of Pac-Man - yes, someone actually finished all 255 levels!
The First Playboy Magazine
Who was the first Playboy playmate? When was the first Playboy magazine published? Find out all about the very first edition of Playboy.
1923 - Charleston Dance Becomes Popular
The Charleston dance became popular after appearing along with the song, "The Charleston," by James P. Johnson in the Broadway musical Runnin' Wild in 1923.
Leopold and Loeb
On May 21, 1924, two brilliant, wealthy teenagers attempted to commit the perfect crime just for the thrill of it. Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb kidnapped 14-year-old Bobby Franks and brutally murdered him. Although it was nearly assured that they were going to receive the death penalty, famous attorney Clarence Darrow took their case and saved their lives. Learn more about the crime and the trial of Leopold and Loeb.
Otzi the Iceman
They didn't realize it, but on September 19, 1991, two German tourists made history when they found the remains of Europe's oldest known mummy. Otzi, as the Iceman is now know, had been stuck in the ice for approximately 5,300 years. Otzi is now telling the story of what life was like in the Copper Age.