The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Cleveland on this day in 1886. The statue weighs 225 tons and is 152 feet tall. It was originally known as "Liberty Enlightening the World."
William Henry Gates III is 63 years old today.
Business magnate, investor, author, philanthropist, humanitarian, and principal founder of Microsoft Corporation. During his career at Microsoft, Gates held the positions of chairman, CEO and chief software architect, while also being the largest individual shareholder until May 2014. He stepped down as chairman of Microsoft in February 2014 and assumed a new post as technology adviser to support the newly appointed CEO Satya Nadella.
Julia Fiona Roberts is 51 years young today.
Julia Roberts gained fame after starring in Pretty Woman 1990 and went on to win an Oscar for her leading role in Erin Brockovich in 2000.
On this day in 1859, Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA (now located in West Virginia). He was hoping to instigate a wider slave rebellion.
"John Brown’s Fort" at Harpers Ferry.
John Brown (May 9, 1800 – December 2, 1859)
On this day in 1987, Rescuers freed Jessica McClure from the abandoned well that she had fallen into in Midland, TX. She was trapped for 58 hours.
Infamous Cuban dictator and revolutionary Fidel Castro came to power in 1959 and served as his country’s Prime Minister until 1976 and President from 1976 to 2008.
Present day Mexico City was captured by Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortez from the Aztec Indians on this day in 1521.
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (August 13, 1899 – April 29, 1980)
Iconic director Alfred Hitchcock is known as The Master of Suspense for his classic films such as Psycho (1960), Rear Window (1954), Dial M for Murder (1954), and The Birds (1963). One of the most influential filmmakers of all time, he directed over 50 feature films, and his work continues to circulate through film circles and classic movie channels.
It was on this day in 1995.
Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995)
John Herbert Dillinger (June 22, 1903 – July 22, 1934)
John Dillinger was an American gangster in the Depression-era who was shot and killed by the special agents on July 22, 1934 at approximately 10:40 p.m, according to a New York Times report the next day. His death came only two months after the deaths of fellow notorious criminals Bonnie and Clyde.
A crowd formed at Chicago’s Biograph Theater shortly after Dillinger was killed there by FBI agents.
In northern Iraq on this day in 2003, Saddam Hussein’s sons Odai and Qusai died after a gunfight with U.S. forces.
The September 11 commission’s final report was released on this day in 2004. The 575-page report concluded that hijackers exploited "deep institutional failings within our government." The report was released to White House officials the day before.
The members of The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.
Walter Frederick Morrison (January 16, 1920 – February 9, 2010)
Inventor and entrepreneur Walter ”Fred” Morrison introduced the Frisbee, as we know it today, on this day in 1957. It was originally called the Flyin-Saucer.
William Frisbie opened the Frisbie Pie Company in 1871 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Students from nearby universities discovered that the empty pie tins (above) could be tossed and caught, providing endless hours of game and sport.
