On this day: The first successful climb of an 8000m mountain
On June 3, 1950, French climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal completed the first successful ascent of a mountain over 8,000m - Annapurna I. It would be 20 years until the feat was repeated. They received grand acclaim for their…
On this day: The only presidential marriage to take place at the White House
On June 2, 1886, Grover Cleveland became the only US President to marry in the White House when he wed Frances Folsom in the Blue Room. We can't imagine it happening today, but apparently in the late 19th century it…
On this day: The Rideau Canal Opened
On May 30, 1832, the Rideau Canal opened between Kingston and Ottawa, providing British forces with a safe supply route away from the US border. These days it is a summer boating attraction for locals and tourists, and designated a…
Airmail Arrows Across the USA
In the early days of the US Postal Service's national airmail service, pilots had to navigate across the USA by sight alone - a task that bad weather could make extremely difficult. And so a network of towers was built,…
On this day: The First Known Ascent of Everest
On May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary made the first known ascent of Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain. The question of whether a 1924 expedition succeeded will remain a mystery forever. Since then, and particularly in the…
On this day: The Afsluitdijk Opened
On May 28, 1932, the (unpronounceable for those of us outside the Netherlands) Afsluitdijk opened. This 32km (20mile) dike is part of a larger flood-protection scheme. Near the mid point is a monument and viewing tower. On the inland side…
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