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162: 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 ground in large parts of western Pennsylvania. Native Americans had used the oil for centuries as an insect repellant, and…
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161: 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 located in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra. Krakatoa is located at the subduction zone of…
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160: 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 was a cleaning woman. He began bodybuilding at the age of 18 and according to his official website he finished…
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159: 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 across the United States. Here are a few facts about both that you might not have known. At the age…
