It was on this date in 1570, that the first modern map/atlas was published.  Abraham Ortelius was the Flemish cartographer who gave the world this Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theatre of the World). For more info: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/gnrlort.html http://www.abemaps.com/Atlas-Ortelius-Theatrum-Orbis-Terrarum-1603.php http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Ortelius

How much times have changed!  The Marquess had accused author/playwright Oscar Wilde of homosexuality (sodomy) involving her son, and he was ultimately imprisoned for this crime in 1895.  He experienced harsh living and labor, resulting in poor health.  On this date in 1897, Oscar Wilde was released from jail due to insufficient evidence.  I, for one, am extremely glad that […]

It was on this date in 1965, that Israeli spy, Eli Cohen, was publicly hanged in Damascus, Syria.  His work was instrumental in helping Israel win the Six Days War in 1967, but he was not alive to see it.  He was caught in the act by Syrian officials, and in spite of requests for clemency from other countries, his […]

Today’s feature truly shocked me.  On this date in 1881, Frederick Douglass was appointed as the Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia.  This may not sound too amazing until you realize that he was the first African-American appointed to an office that required senate confirmation.  This wasn’t even his first nor only position.  The Senate confirmed this “free […]

It was on this date in 1770 that the woman who would be known for her rash statement “Let them eat cake” was married.  Fourteen-year-old Marie Antoinette married 15-year-old Louis, the future king of France.  Unfortunately, she only lived to be 23 due to the impending French Revolution.  There was no real love between them since they married for purely […]

It was on this date in 1862, that President Lincoln created the Department of Agriculture.  The head of this department was not a cabinet member, and he referred to it as the people’s department.  I was surprised to discover that Lincoln was doing something like this during the Civil War. For info: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Agriculture http://www.nal.usda.gov/lincolns-agricultural-legacy

I guess today’s feature shows that some things never change.  On this date in 1787, the constitutional convention was scheduled to happen in Philadelphia.  But guess what!  Not everyone showed up until a week later.  The difference is that the delay was due to difficulty of travel in the 1700’s.  For more info: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Convention_(United_States) http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_514525.asp

Though the picture above is not from her historic feat, on this date in1995, Alison Hargreaves of the UK, became the first woman (and only the second person) to reach the summit of Mt. Everest without the aid of oxygen or the Sherpa people.  Her career as a mountain climber was short but full of amazing ascents.  Unfortunately, she died […]

Here is something I knew nothing about.  I am aware of the IRA, but in the U.S., we do not normally hear about them.  In 1981, he became the second member to join a hunger strike.  He was serving a life sentence for killing a British soldier.  He joined the hunger strike May 15,1981.  After 59 days without food, he […]

On this date in 2013, the One World Trade Center in New York City became the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.  An antenna was added to the top to make it 1776 feet tall.  For more info: http://mashable.com/2013/05/10/freedom-tower/ http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/51848014 http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_the_United_States