Today in 1792, President George Washington signed the Postal Service Act thereby establishing the U.S. Post Office.
Today in 1839, Congress outlawed dueling in the District of Columbia. The decision was prompted by a 1838 duel at the infamous Bladensburg Dueling Grounds in which a congressman from Kentucky killed a congressman from Maine.
Today in 1933, US House of Representatives completed congressional action to repeal Prohibition.
Today in 1952, Emmett L. Ashford became the first Black umpire in organized baseball – as he became authorized as a substitute in the Southwestern International League. Fast forward to April 1966, and he debuted in Major League Baseball as the first African American ump in the majors.
Today in 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth in space, aboard the "Friendship 7." He made three orbits in five hours, for a total of 81,000 miles.
Today in 1987, a bomb exploded in a computer store in Salt Lake City, Utah – the blast was blamed on the Unabomber.
Today in 1999, film critic and “Chicago Tribune” journalist Gene Siskel passed away at the age of 53.
Today in 2003, 100 people were killed and 300 were injured in West Warwick, Rhode Island, when fire destroyed The Station nightclub. The fire started with sparks from a pyrotechnic display being used by Great White. Ty Longley, guitarist for Great White, was one of the victims in the fire.
Today in 2016, a gunman went on a random killing spree in Kalamazoo, Michigan, killing six.
(Photo credit-/AFP via Getty Images)