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Archive: Falklands Islands War
(Originally published April 2, 2015) Today is the 33rd anniversary of the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory also claimed by Argentina. The invasion sparked the Falklands War. Here are three things you may not have known about the Falklands War: One: 904 troops were killed and 2,432 were wounded during…
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Gadsden Lapse: Watch Out for the Details
On this date in 1953, parts of southern Arizona and New Mexico reverted back to Mexican control for 24 hours as a result of overlooked fine-print in the Gadsden Purchase, 100 years earlier. Here are a few things you may not have known about the Gadsden Lapse. The Gadsden Purchase was made in 1853 with…
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Eiffel Tower: Beating the Odds
On this date in 1889, the Eiffel Tower opened. Here are some things you may not have known about the Paris landmark. It was constructed as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair and was designed and built by the company owned by Gustave Eiffel. The tower cost an estimated 6.5 million francs, of which…
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Jeopardy: Answers and Questions
On this date in 1964, “Jeopardy!” debuted on NBC. Here are some things you may not have known about the long-running game show. The original incarnation ran as part of NBC’s daytime schedule. It was hosted by Art Fleming with announcer Don Pardo. This version of the show ran for 11 seasons and 2,753 episodes…
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Coca-Cola: The Real Thing Since 1886
Today is the 130th anniversary of the creation of the first batch of Coca-Cola. Here are some things you may not know about the world’s most popular soft drink. John Pemberton, a former colonel in the Confederate Army, became addicted to morphine to ease the pain of battle injuries. He worked as a pharmacist and…
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Washing Machines: Domestic Industrial Revolution
On this date in 1797, Nathaniel Griggs of New Hampshire was granted the first American patent for a washing machine. Here are some things you may not have known about washing machines. Before the invention of washing machines, washing clothes by hand was a laborious and time-consuming undertaking. It consisted of transporting water by hand…
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Archives: Typhoid Mary: Spreading Disease #history #podcasts #trivia
Mary Mallon, also known as Typhoid Mary, was quarantined on March 27, 1915. Here are a few things you might not know about Typhoid Mary, the first person identified as a healthy carrier of typhoid fever: One: She worked as a cook for eight families in New York before her first quarantine, seven of the…
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Archives: Sandra Day O’Connor: A Supreme Court Pioneer
(Originally published March 26, 2015) March 26th marks the 85th birthday of former United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first female jurist appointed to that position. Here are three things you might not know about Sandra Day O’Connor. One: She grew up on a cattle ranch near El Paso, Texas before attending…
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Exxon Valdez: An Oil Spill Nightmare
Today is the 27th anniversary of the grounding of the Exxon Valdez and subsequent oil spill. Here are some things you may not know about the environmental disaster. The supertanker was carrying about 55 million gallons of crude oil from Valdez, Alaska, to Long Beach, California. Valdez is the southern end of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.…
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Elevators: Going Up!
On this date in 1857, the first successful passenger elevator was installed in New York City by Elisha Otis. Here are some things you may not have known about elevators and Mr. Otis. Elisha Otis was born in Vermont in 1811. He worked as a craftsman, turning bedposts, building wagons and making dolls. He was…