Today in 1862, Congress abolished slavery in the District of Columbia with a compensated emancipation program and President Abraham Lincoln signed it into law.
Today in 1912, Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly across the English Channel. She left Dover, England, and arrived near Calais, France, in 59-minutes.
Today in 1922, Annie Oakley shot 100 clay targets a row, setting a women's record.
Today in 1940, Bob Feller earned the first no-hitter, thrown on the opening day of baseball season. The Cleveland Indians blanked the Chicago White Sox 1-0.
Today in 1943, Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman unintentionally discovered the hallucinogenic qualities of LSD. He created the compound in his laboratory, and a small quantity accidentally seeped through the skin on his finger...he then took the first acid trip.
Today in 1947, the zoom lens was first demonstrated.
Today in 1947, financier Bernard M. Baruch declared: “Let us not be deceived – we are today in the midst of a cold war.” He’s credited with coining the term.
Today in 1972, Apollo 16 blasted off on a voyage to the moon.
Today in 1972, two giant pandas – Ling-Ling (1969–92) and Hsing-Hsing (1970–99) – arrived in the U.S. from China. They were gifts to the country following President Richard Nixon’s recent visit.
Today in 1979, Jane Byrne became the first female mayor in Chicago.
Today in 1983, EMI Records began producing CDs. Back then, CDs debuted on the shelves at an average price of $12. I wish they were still that price!
Today in 1983, Roy L. Williams agreed to resign as president of the Teamsters union as part of a bargain with federal prosecutors.
Today in 1987, Abbie Hoffman, former first daughter Amy Carter, and 13 others were acquitted on civil disobedience charges related to a CIA protest in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Today in 2002, the Supreme Court overturned major parts of a 1996 child pornography law on free-speech grounds, saying two provisions of the law were overly broad and unconstitutional.
Today in 2007, the event that became known as the Virginia Tech massacre took place. The deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, the gunman killed 32 people and injured 23 others before committing suicide.
Today in 2008, the Supreme Court upheld the most widely used method of lethal injection, allowing states to resume executions after a seven-month halt. The vote was 7-2.
Today in 2012, when the Pulitzer Prize announcements came, the big surprise wasn't who won, but who didn't. For the first time since 1977, no Pulitzer Prize for Fiction was awarded.
Today in 2013, an envelope addressed to Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), tested positive for ricin [[RY-sin]], a potentially fatal poison. Others were send to President Barack Obama and a judge. A Mississippi man later pleaded guilty to sending them all – and was sentenced to 24 years in prison.
Today in 2018, Kendrick Lamar became the first rapper and non classical or jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize for music with his album, "Damn."