On January 10, 1901, a drilling derrick at Spindletop Hill near
Beaumont, Texas, produced an enormous gusher of crude oil,
coating the landscape for hundreds of feet and signaling the
advent of the American oil industry. The geyser was discovered
at a depth of over 1,000 feet, flowed at an initial rate of almost
100,000 barrels a day and took nine days to cap. Following the
discovery, petroleum, which until that time had been used in
the U.S. primarily as a lubricant and in kerosene for lamps,
would become the main fuel source for new inventions such
as cars and airplanes; coal-powered forms of transportation
including ships and trains would also convert to the liquid fuel.

A drilling crew takes a break atop Spindletop Hill in Beaumont,
Texas.

On May 20, 1873, San Francisco businessman Levi Strauss and
Reno, Nevada, tailor Jacob Davis (above) were given a patent to
create work pants reinforced with metal rivets, marking the birth
of one of the world’s most famous garments: blue jeans.

The Spruce Goose, the first aircraft with a wingspan in excess of 300 feet, the largest flying boat ever built, made its one and only flight on
November 2, 1947, in Long Beach, California. It was designed and constructed by Howard Hughes and his Aircraft Company.

Howard Robard Hughes Jr.(December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976)

Howard Hughes, one of the richest men to emerge from the American West during the 20th century, died while being flown from Acapulco
to Houston,Texas.

Amedeo Obici   (July 15, 1877 – May 22, 1947)

In 1906, Italian immigrant Amedeo Obici, along with his
friend and business partner, Mario Peruzzi, founded
Planters Peanut Company in Wilkes-Barre, PA. He
started his career as a bellhop and fruit stand vender
in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Obici later moved to Wilkes-
Barre, opened his own fruit stand, and invested in a
peanut roaster. He turned peddler within a few years,
using a horse and wagon, and calling himself "The
Peanut Specialist". Today, the snack food company
is a division of Kraft Foods.

A 1917 drawing of the company’s brand icon by artist Elmer
Cecil Stoner based upon a contest entry by 14 year old
Antonio Gentile.

    1921

.

ED DONAHUE

It was on this day in 1994 the civil war erupted in Rwanda.

Herbert Hoover, then Secretary of Commerce, is shown as he
took part in the first successful public demonstration of inter-
city television broadcasting on this day in 1927.

Henry Ford’s first car was the Quadricycle, seen here with Ford
in 1896.

It was on this day in 1947.

Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947)

On this day in 1949.