On this day: York Minster was Damaged by Fire
On May 20, 1840, an accidental fire damaged a large part of York Minster. Just one of a number of fires which have blighted the building over the centuries, this one in particular led the Church into serious debt and…
On this day: The Celsius Thermometer was Invented
On May 19, 1743, the first Celsius mercury thermometer design was published by Jean-Pierre Christin. Only a handful of countries still doggedly hold on to the Fahrenheit scale, including the US where the World's Tallest Thermometer is found in Baker,…
On this day: The First Academy Awards
On May 16, 1929, the first Academy Awards (Oscars) took place at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. 270 people paid $5 for dinner and the ceremony took all of 15 minutes - a far cry from the bloated excess of the…
The Walls of Ston
Although the walls in question are made of stone, the title of this post isn't missing an 'e'. Ston is a town in Croatia which is the proud owner of Europe's longest structure. The walls of Ston are defensive walls…
On this day: The City of Las Vegas was Founded
On May 15, 1905, the city of Las Vegas was founded with the auction of half a square kilometre of land owned by the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad. Initially a pioneer stopover, the first casinos in…
On this day: Talyllyn Railway
On May 14, 1951, the Talyllyn Railway became the first line in the world to be preserved as a heritage railway by volunteers. Trains doubtless run closer to schedule than any other railway in the UK.
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