This Day in History

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1878 – A yellow fever epidemic in Memphis eventually empties the city (More info)

1918 – Opha Mae Johnson becomes the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps (More info)

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Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1851 – Isaac Singer patents the sewing machine (More info)

1898 – An Armistice ends the Spanish-American War (More info)

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Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1934 – The first civilian inmates arrive at the Federal prison on Alcatraz Island (More info)

1965 – The predominately black neighborhood of Watts in Los Angeles erupts in riots that last six days and leave 34 people dead (More info)

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Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1483 – The Sistine Chapel in Rome opens with a celebratory Mass (More info)

1930 – Betty Boop debuts in the cartoon ‘Dizzy Dishes’ (More info)

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Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1782 – George Washington orders the creation of the Badge of Military Merit to honor soldiers wounded in battle; it is later renamed to the more poetic Purple Heart (More info)

1789 – The United States War Department, which later becomes the Department of Defense, is established (More info)

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Here are just some of the notable sports moments that happened on August 7:

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Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1890 – Murderer William Kemmler becomes the first person to be executed by electric chair (More info)

1926 – Harry Houdini performs his greatest feat, spending 91 minutes underwater in a sealed tank before escaping (More info)

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Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1861 – To help pay for the Civil War, the US government levies its first income tax (More info)

1884 – The cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty is laid in New York Harbor (More info)

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