Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790)
Benjamin Franklin, scientist, philosopher, author and the
most celebrated American on both sides of the Atlantic
Ocean in the era of revolution, was born on this day in
history, Jan. 17, 1706.
The Founding Father’s bust and the words "Birthplace of
Franklin" mark the site at 17 Milk St. in downtown Boston
today.
Benjamin Franklin statue at old Massachusetts
State house in Boston.
On January 17, 1953, a prototype Chevrolet Corvette sports car
made its debut at General Motors’ (GM) Motorama auto show at
the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. The Corvette, named
for a fast type of naval warship, would eventually become an
iconic American muscle car and remains in production today.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 1LT Coupe.
The Peace Patrol was a U.S. Savings Stamp and Bond program
targeted at school-aged children called “Little Savers” that was
launched in the late 1950s.
The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a progressive effort
to enforce social reform via expanded federal power and popularly known as Prohibition, was ratified on this day in history, Jan. 16,
1919.
The amendment stated, "The manufacture, sale, or transportation
of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all the territory
subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is
hereby prohibited.”
Prohibition ended with the ratification of the Twenty-first
Amendment, which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment
on December 5, 1933.
