Sadly, today’s feature took way too long to happen, in my opinion.  But I am happy to report that on this date in 1963, the first African-American student graduated from the University of Mississippi.  He fought long and hard to have this opportunity, and his civil right activism is quite inspiring.  I will never understand the racial issues that this […]

It was on this date in 1978, that the first hot air balloon successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean. People had tried out for about a hundred years,  and this was the fourteenth try for the operators of Double Eagle II. It took 137 minutes and 6 minutes for it to arrive in France after leaving from Maine. For more info: […]

I have never been to this island, but I know its history is long and varied.  On this date in 1960, the island nation of Cyprus became a republic, thus making its constitution effective.  This did not mean instant peace, however.  The 1960’s saw extreme unrest, and in 1974, there was a military coup led by the Turkish army.  It […]

I am from the Pacific Northwest, but I didn’t know about this bit of history.  On this date in 1933, the historic Tillamook Burn began along the Oregon Coast.  A little spark caused the fire, and it burned at least a quarter of a million acres of Douglas Fir forest.  The cost of the loss is estimated to have been […]

You may have heard of the French Revolution (I hope you have) in which the aristocrats were systematically beheaded.  On this date in 1792, the royal family consisting of Marie Antoinette, King Louis XVI and their children Louis and Maria-Therese were arrested and placed in the Temple Tower.  The fate of these souls was essentially quite sad.  Both of the […]

This is a very important day for those who appreciate the sewing machine.  On this date in 1851, Isaac Singer was granted a patent for his sewing machine.  Unfortunately, issues arose later.   He and another sewing machine inventor, Elias Howe, had a major dispute.  How had patented the eyed needle that Singer was using in his machine.  Singer argued that […]

Today’s feature truly amazed me.  I knew about Hedy Lamarr,  but I only thought she was a pretty face and a glamorous actress. Here’s what you may not know about this woman.  On this date in 1942, she and George Anaheim were awarded a patent for a frequency hopping secret communication system.  And why is this important to us?  It […]

I was not quite two months old when this historic event occurred. It was on this date in 1974, that President Richard Nixon resigned as the 37th president for the U. S. . This kept him from being impeached due to the Watergate Scandal. For more info: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/articles/080974-3.htm http://www.thestarshollowgazette.com/diary/10794/on-this-day-in-history-august-9

For any of you who are familiar with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, this should be an interesting tidbit.  On this date in A.D. 70 (from the best information I can tell), the Romans destroyed the Tower of Antonia.  Some scholars believe that it was this tower that was Pontius Pilate’s Praetorium where Jesus stood to be accused […]

It was on this date in 1620, that Catherine Guldenmann Kepler, mother of Johannes Kepler, was arrested for witchcraft.  She was not liked in her small town of Leonburg, Germany, and she also made potions.  She spent thirteen months in jail, and thankfully she was acquitted.   For more info: http://www.stevenlberg.info/today/93 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Kepler