Today in 1846, Mormons began their exodus west from Illinois.
Today in 1863, the fire extinguisher was patented by Alanson Crane.
Today in 1947, the WWII peace treaties were signed.
Today in 1961, Niagara Falls hydroelectric project began producing power.
Today in 1967, the 25th Amendment (US Presidential Disability & Succession) was ratified. What this allows is for the Vice President to become president in the event of death, resignation, removal from office or impairment that prevents the current president from fulfilling his or her duties.
Today in 1986, A&P food stores started pulling bottles of Tylenol off their shelves in the wake of a series of cyanide poisonings.
Today in 1987, Surgeon General C. Everett Koop told a House panel he thought condom advertisements on television would be appropriate, considering the health threat posed by AIDS.
Today in 1996, world chess champion Garry Kasparov lost the first game of a match in Philadelphia against an IBM computer dubbed "Deep Blue."
Today in 1997, the U.S. Army suspended its top-ranking enlisted soldier, Army Sgt. Major Gene McKinney following allegations of sexual misconduct. McKinney was convicted of obstruction of justice, but acquitted of 18 counts alleging sexual harassment of six military women. Ultimately, he was reduced in rank by two grades and reprimanded.
Today in 1997, the OJ Simpson civil jury decreed that he must pay $25-million in punitive damages.
Today in 1997, Lemrick Nelson was found guilty in the fatal stabbing on Hasidic Jew Yankel Rosenbaum during the Crown Heights Riots in Brooklyn in 1991.
Today in 1998, French police questioned Robert DeNiro for nine hours about his possible involvement with a call-girl ring. An outraged DeNiro said he would “never come back to France” and later, sued the magistrate.
Today in 1998, Monica Lewinsky's mother, Marcia Lewis, testified before the grand jury investigating her daughter's affair with President Clinton.
Today in 1999, a federal judge ordered American Airlines pilots to end a sickout that had grounded 2,500 flights, stranded 200,000 travelers and left businesses scrambling for cargo carriers.
Today in 2000, the hijackers of an Afghan plane surrendered, ending a four-day standoff at Stansted airport outside London.
Today in 2000, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered inspections of MD-80, MD-90, DC-9 and 717 series jetliners after two Alaska Airlines planes were found to have equipment damage similar to that on Alaska Airlines Flight 261, which crashed off the California coast January 31st, killing all 88 people on board.
Today in 2006, 20th Winter Olympic Games opened in Turin, Italy.
Today in 2019, a sexual abuse investigation into US Southern Baptist churches revealed 400 church members implicated with over 700 victims.
Today in 2021, astronomers confirmed the planetoid named Farfarout as the most distant orbiting the Sun, almost four times more distant than Pluto.