On this date in the year 1314, the city of Oslo became the capital of Norway. Here are some things you may not have known about the city. Oslo traces its history to about 1000 …
Continue readingMonth: August 2015
163: Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech
On this date in 1963, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered one of the most iconic speeches of the last century on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Here are …
Continue reading162: Pennsylvania Oil Rush of 1859
On this date in 1859, the first large-scale oil well began operating in Titusville, Pennsylvania. Here are some things you may not have known about the early days of oil. Oil naturally seeps from the …
Continue reading161: Eruption of Krakatoa
Today marks the 132nd anniversary of the beginning of the eruption of Krakatoa in what is now Indonesia. Here are some things you may not have known about the eruption: The island of Krakatoa is …
Continue reading160: Sean Connery’s 85th Birthday
Today is the 85th birthday of actor Sean Connery. Here are some things you may not have known about him: Connery was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father was a truck driver and his mother …
Continue reading159: Earhart, Webb Make Historic Crossings
August 24 is the anniversary of two historic crossings. In 1875, Matthew Webb became the first person to swim across the English Channel, while in 1932 Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly non-stop …
Continue readingW5 — Week in Review quiz: Aug. 17-21
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Continue reading158: “Please Mr. Postman” goes to No. 1 for Motown
Today is the 54th anniversary of the first No. 1 hit for Motown Records, “Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvelettes. Here are some things you may not have known about Motown and the Marvelettes. Motown …
Continue reading157: The Big Burn
Today is the 105th anniversary of the beginning of the Great Fire of 1910, the largest forest fire in American history. Here are some things you may not have known about “The Big Burn.” The …
Continue reading156: Daguerreotype First Displayed
On this date in 1839, the French government presented the patent rights to the early photography process of daguerreotype as a gift to the world. Here are a few things you may not know about …
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