Today in 1776, British forces occupied New York City during the American Revolution.
Today in 1858, the first mail service began to the Pacific Coast of the U.S. under government contract. Coaches from the Butterfield Overland Mail Company took 12 days to make the journey between Tipton, Missouri and San Francisco, California.
Today in 1923, Oklahoma was placed under martial law by Gov. John Calloway Walton due to terrorist activity by the Ku Klux Klan. After this declaration national newspapers began to expose the Klan and its criminal activities.
Today in 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were enacted by the Nazis. The act stripped all German Jews of their civil rights and the swastika was made the official symbol of Nazi Germany.
Today in 1952, the classic “I Love Lucy” episode, "Lucy in the Candy Factory," hit the airwaves.
Today in 1954, a blast of air from a vent at 51st Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan lifted Marilyn Monroe's dress while she was filming a scene from "The Seven Year Itch." The resulting photo remains one of Monroe’s most enduring images.
Today in 1961, the US resumed underground testing of nuclear weapons.
Today in 1963, four black schoolgirls, ages 11 and 14, were killed when a bomb exploded at a Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama. Former Ku Klux Klan member Bobby Frank Cherry, who reportedly bragged about the crime, went to trial on charges related to the event in 2002 – and was convicted. While he appealed the conviction, it was upheld. Cherry died in the Kilby prison's hospital unit, on November 18, 2004 at the age of 74.
Today in 1982, “USA Today” printed its first edition.
Today in 1991, Troy Aikman was sacked 11 times as Dallas took on Philadelphia, who won 24-0.
Today 1993, the FBI announced a new national campaign concerning the crime of carjacking.
Today in 1998, Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals hit his 63rd home run of the season.
Today in 2013, Japan switched off its last working nuclear reactor for maintenance, leaving the country with no nuclear power supply for the second time in 40 years. All of Japan's nuclear plants were gradually shut down after a series of meltdowns at the Fukushima plant sparked by the tsunami and earthquake. But after passing stringent new safety tests, Kyushu Electric Power restarted the number one reactor at its Sendai plant August 2015.
Today in 2014, President Obama announced the US would send 3,000 troops to help combat spread of the Ebola virus.
Today in 2015, Hungary sealed its border with Serbia with a razor-wire fence, stranding thousands of migrants.
Today in 2018, archaeologists found the oldest-known brewery and remains of 13,000-year-old beer in Haifa cave, Israel.
Today in 2021, American gymnasts, including Simone Biles and Aly Raisman, testified against former team doctor Larry Nassar at a Senate Committee hearing. Aside from criticizing the system that allowed it to happen, they positively blasted the FBI for their mishandling of the investigation.
Today in 2021, SpaceX launched the first all-civilian spaceflight from Cape Canaveral, Florida, for three-day orbit around Earth.