Today in 1858, the first "asylum" for alcoholics was founded as the cornerstone was laid and construction began on the New York State Inebriate Asylum in Binghamton, New York. It opened to patients in 1864.
Today in 1869, this day became known as Black Friday as the price of gold rose to panic-causing heights. It happened when thousands of businessmen were ruined in a Wall Street panic after financiers Jay Gould and James Fisk attempted to corner the gold market.
Today in 1906, the government made Devil's Tower in Wyoming the first national monument. The site was later made famous in the film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."
Today in 1960, the final installment of “The Howdy Doody Show” was broadcast. It had been airing on NBC since 1947. On that last show, Clarabell the Clown, who’d never uttered a word before, finally spoke. He said sadly, “Goodbye, kids.”
Today in 1991, children's book author Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as "Dr. Seuss," died at his home in La Jolla, California following a battle with mouth cancer. He was 87.
Today in 1992, Sci-Fi Channel was launched.
Today in 1998, the Federal Reserve put into circulation $2-billion in harder-to-counterfeit $20 bills.
Today in 1999, Oregon teenager Kip Kinkel, who killed his parents and gunned down two classmates at school, abandoned an insanity defense and pleaded guilty to murder. He was later sentenced to 112 years without parole.
Today in 2001, then-President George W. Bush froze the assets of 27 suspected terrorists and terrorist groups.
Today in 2007, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave a controversial speech on the campus of Columbia University.
Today in 2015, Pope Francis became the first pope to address the United States Congress. In his speech, he named Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Thomas Merton and Dorothy Day as his American heroes.
Today in 2017, NFL players kneeled, locked arms or stood in their locker room during the anthem in protest against comments made by President Donald Trump.
Today in 2017, LeBron James called President Donald Trump "U Bum" in a tweet in response to Trump's comments about Stephen Curry. Curry had said he’d take a pass on visiting the White House after the Warriors’ championship win...and then Trump announced he’d rescinded the invitation.
Today in 2019, Nancy Pelosi announced the formal impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, arguing that he tried to enlist a foreign power for his own political gain.