Today is National Chess Day in the USA, an event based on a proclamation by President Gerald Ford in 1976. (Though it's usually celebrated on the closest Saturday when people have more time to play!) Doubtless there will be much…

On October 8, 1835, Charles Darwin's ship The Beagle reached James Island (Santiago Island) in the Galapagos. Darwin spent 9 days on the volcanic island collecting many specimens which contributed to his theory of evolution.

On this day 98 years ago, the most lopsided college football game ever took place at Grant Field in Atlanta, now known as Bobby Dodd Stadium. Georgia Tech defeated an improvised team from Cumberland College by the remarkable score of…

On October 6, 1887, architect Le Corbusier was born, though at the time he was known as Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris. He was a pioneer of modern architecture, and was determined to improve life for residents of crowded cities. Amongst his creations…

This Land is Your Land… Woody Guthrie died on this day in 1967. The acclaimed song-writer and performer of traditional and political music is commemorated with a statue in his birthplace of Okemah, OK.

On October 2, 1535, Jacques Cartier became the first European to sight Mont Royal and the large village of Hochelaga, where he was greeted by a sizeable crowd. Over time it became the rather larger community of Montreal. Cartier was…