Shortly after midnight on August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales (above)—
affectionately known as "the People’s Princess"—died in a car crash in Paris
at the age  of 36.  Her boyfriend, the Egyptian-born socialite Dodi Fayed, and
the driver of the car, Henri Paul, died as well.

Princess Diana was one of the most popular public figures in the world. Her
death was met with a massive outpouring of grief. Mourners began visiting Kensington Palace immediately, leaving bouquets at the home where the
princess, also known as Lady Di, would never return. Piles of flowers
reached some 30 feet from the palace’s gate (below).

CAMILLE
BOHANNON

On this day in 1984 ~

Democratic presidential candidate Walter F. Mondale (right) named U.S. Rep.
Geraldine A. Ferraro of New York (left) to be his running mate. Ferraro was
the first woman to run for vice president on a major party ticket.

Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale turned 91 in January.

Geraldine Anne "Gerry" Ferraro (August 26, 1935 – March 26, 2011)

CAMILLE BOHANNON

During the U.S. Civil War, the first day’s fighting at Gettysburg began
on this day in 1863 between Union and Confederate forces.The battle involved the largest number of casualties of the entire war, often
described as the war’s turning point.

The battle was fought near the southern border of Pennsylvania in
and around the town of Gettysburg.

CAMILLE BOHANNON

It was on this day in 1964.

The bodies of the three civil rights workers found in an earthen dam
in Mississippi on August 4, 1964.

CAMILLE
BOHANNON

On this day in 1943,race-related rioting erupted in Detroit, MI. Federal troops were sent in two days later to end the violence that left more
than 30 dead.