Today in 1763, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon began surveying the Mason-Dixon Line – the southern boundary of Pennsylvania.
Today in 1777, the Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation.
Today in 1805, the Lewis & Clark expedition reached the Pacific Ocean, first European Americans to cross the west.
Today in 1926,the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) was created by the Radio Corporation of America. The company debuted with a network of 24 stations.
Today in 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC.
Today in 1966, the flight of Gemini 12 ended successfully as astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Junior splashed down safely in the Atlantic.
Today in 1959, the Clutter family of Holcomb, Kansas was murdered by Richard Hicock and Perry Smith, who were ultimately executed for their crime. The murders were the basis for Truman Capote's book, “In Cold Blood.”
Today in 1969, the first Wendy's Hamburger restaurant opened.
Today in 1969, in a massive display, 250-thousand protesters staged a peaceful demonstration against the Vietnam War, in Washington, DC, at the Washington Monument.
Today in 1990, the Senate Ethics Committee began hearings on the "Keating Five," the senators accused of helping failed savings-and-loan owner Charles H. Keating Junior.
Today in 1998, Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin Luther King Jr. presented new evidence in appeal for new federal investigation of assassination. King spoke publicly for years about her doubts that James Earl Ray was the only gunman and that he acted alone. After Ray's death on April 23rd, 1998, the King estate filed a wrongful death suit against Loyd Jowers, who had been the owner and operator of Jim's Grill, near the site of the assassination. On this date, the trial began. The suit asked for only $100 in damages, as its larger purpose was to enter into the public record testimony from Jowers that she hoped would reveal a conspiracy around her husband’s assassination. After four weeks of testimony and over 70 witnesses in a civil trial in Memphis, Tennessee, twelve jurors reached a unanimous verdict on December 8, 1999 after about an hour of deliberations that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated as a result of a conspiracy.
Today in 2000, three police officers from the Rampart division of the Los Angeles police department were convicted on several counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice. One other officer was acquitted. The case was the first major case against the anti-gang unit.
Today in 2013, Sony launched the PlayStation Four…and sold one million units on the first day.
Today in 2015, Holly Holm defeated UFC Champion Ronda Rousey in an upset in Melbourne, Australia.