today in history

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1431 – Joan of Arc is burned at the stake as a heretic (More info) 1806 – Andrew Jackson kills Charles Dickinson in a duel after Dickinson accuses Jackson’s wife of bigamy (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1790 – Rhode Island becomes the last of the original US colonies to ratify the Constitution and is admitted as the 13th state (More info) 1942 – Bing Crosby records Irving Berlin’s ‘White Christmas,’ the best-selling Christmas single in history (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1925 – John T. Scopes is indicted for teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution (More info) 1968 – The St. Louis Arch is dedicated (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1775 – John Hancock is elected president of the Second Continental Congress (More info) 1844 – Samuel Morse transmits the first telegraph message: “What hath God wrought?” (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1701 – William Kidd, popularly known as Captain Kidd, is hanged for piracy and murder (More info) 1911 – The New York Public Library is dedicated (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1906 – The Wright brothers are granted a US patent for their “Flying Machine” (More info) 1947 – The Truman Doctrine provides aid to Greece and Turkey in an effort to combat the spread of Communism (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1881 – The American Red Cross is founded (More info) 1927 – Charles Lindbergh completes the world’s first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean in his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1928 – Mickey Mouse premieres in his first cartoon, ‘Plane Crazy’ (More info) 1940 – McDonald’s opens its first restaurant in San Bernardino, Calif. (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1804 – The Lewis and Clark Expedition begins its historic journey (More info) 1904 – St. Louis, Mo. hosts the first Olympic Games in the United States (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1846 – President James K. Polk asked for and received a Declaration of War against Mexico, starting the Mexican-American War (More info) 1924 – Mercedes-Benz is formed when Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz merge their two companies (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1863 – Confederate General Stonewall Jackson dies, eight days after being accidentally shot by his own troops (More info) 1869 – The First Transcontinental Railroad, linking the eastern and western US, is completed with the driving in of a golden spike in Promontory Summit, UT (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1914 – Mother’s Day becomes a public holiday (More info) 1962 – The Beatles sign their first recording contract and hire George Martin to be their producer (More info)