Today in 1868, the "Great Train Robbery" took place near Marshfield, Indiana when seven members of the Reno gang made off with $96,000.
Today in 1908, the Wright brothers received a patent for their flying machine.
Today in 1924,two students from the University of Chicago – killed 14-year-old Bobby Franks – in what was described as a “thrill killing.” At the time, the trial was called “the trial of the century.” (pre-O.J. Simpson)
Today in 1972, President Richard Nixon began a visit to the Soviet Union, during which he and Kremlin leaders signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
Today in 1992, Johnny Carson retired from the “Tonight Show” after 30 years…with 55-million people watching his farewell show.
Today in 1997, in a case that drew national attention, Kelly Flinn, the Air Force's first female bomber pilot certified for combat, accepted a general discharge, thereby avoiding court-martial on charges of adultery, lying and disobeying an order for an affair with the husband of an enlisted subordinate.
Today in 1998, a federal judge said that Secret Service agents could be compelled to testify before a grand jury in the Monica Lewinsky investigation concerning then-President Clinton.
Today in 2002, a jury in Birmingham, Alabama, convicted former Ku Klux Klan member Bobby Frank Cherry of the 1963 murders of four girls in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.
Today in 2003, Annika Sörenstam became the first woman in 58 years to play the PGA Tour.
Today in 2011, an EF5 Tornado struck the city of Joplin, Missouri killing at least 158 people. It was the single deadliest US tornado since modern record keeping began in 1950.
Today in 2013, Lois Lerner, an Internal Revenue Service supervisor whose agents had targeted conservative groups, swore to a House committee she did nothing wrong, then refused to answer further questions, citing her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself.
Today in 2015, Ireland became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote.
Today in 2017, Japanese researchers from University of Yamanashi reported the birth of mice from freeze-dried sperm stored on the International Space Station.
Today in 2017, President Donald Trump, in a historic gesture, solemnly placed a note in the ancient stones of Jerusalem’s Western Wall.
Today in 2017, a suicide bomber set off an improvised explosive device that killed 22 people at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England.
Today in 2019, Washington State became the first state in America to legalize composting human bodies.