On This Day in History | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/on-this-day-in-history/RSS feed for On This Day in HistoryenSun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000The Story Behind the World-Famous Photograph of U.S. Marines Raising the American Flag During the Battle of Iwo Jimahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-story-behind-the-world-famous-photograph-of-us-marines-raising-the-american-flag-during-the-battle-of-iwo-jima-180986055/Joe Rosenthal’s iconic photos from Iwo Jima helped the United States raise $26 billion for the war and served as the basis for the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, VirginiaSun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-story-behind-the-world-famous-photograph-of-us-marines-raising-the-american-flag-during-the-battle-of-iwo-jima-180986055/Why Scientists Kept the Birth of Dolly, the World's First Cloned Mammal, a Secret for Seven Monthshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-scientists-kept-the-birth-of-dolly-the-worlds-first-cloned-mammal-a-secret-for-seven-months-180986009/The scientific breakthrough, announced on this day in 1997, proved that geneticists could clone an adult mammal, giving rise to a new era of ethical debate and experimentationSat, 22 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-scientists-kept-the-birth-of-dolly-the-worlds-first-cloned-mammal-a-secret-for-seven-months-180986009/The Last Member of This Bird Species Died in Captivity on This Day in 1918https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-last-member-of-this-bird-species-died-in-captivity-on-this-day-in-1918-180986054/Incas died at the Cincinnati Zoo, leaving behind mysteries over his death, his final resting place and the factors that led to the extinction of the Carolina parakeetFri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-last-member-of-this-bird-species-died-in-captivity-on-this-day-in-1918-180986054/Neither Snow Nor Rain Nor Heat Nor Gloom Stopped the United States Post Office Department From Launching on This Day in 1792https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/neither-snow-nor-rain-nor-heat-nor-gloom-stopped-the-united-states-post-office-department-from-launching-on-this-day-in-1792-180986064/The American Revolution cemented the importance of a federally protected post office in the minds of the people and politiciansThu, 20 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/neither-snow-nor-rain-nor-heat-nor-gloom-stopped-the-united-states-post-office-department-from-launching-on-this-day-in-1792-180986064/Donner Party Survivors Were Rescued on This Day in 1847 After Weeks of Frigid Conditions, Starvation and—Eventually—Cannibalismhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/donner-party-survivors-were-rescued-on-this-day-in-1847-after-weeks-of-frigid-conditions-starvation-andeventuallycannibalism-180985983/Bad luck and poor decisions turned the already dangerous trek from Missouri to California into a fatal affair for roughly half of the Donner-Reed partyWed, 19 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/donner-party-survivors-were-rescued-on-this-day-in-1847-after-weeks-of-frigid-conditions-starvation-andeventuallycannibalism-180985983/Why an English King's Traitorous Brother Was (Allegedly) Drowned in a Barrel of Winehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-an-english-kings-traitorous-brother-was-allegedly-drowned-in-a-barrel-of-wine-180985982/George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, spent his life engaged in a power struggle that pitted cousins and siblings against each other. He was executed for treason on this day in 1478Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-an-english-kings-traitorous-brother-was-allegedly-drowned-in-a-barrel-of-wine-180985982/With More Than 15 Million Made, This Iconic Car Became the World’s Most Popular on This Day in 1972https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/with-more-than-15-million-made-this-iconic-car-became-the-worlds-most-popular-on-this-day-in-1972-180986053/Blockbuster movies and the Beatles helped popularize Volkswagen’s uniquely shaped and affordable little carMon, 17 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/with-more-than-15-million-made-this-iconic-car-became-the-worlds-most-popular-on-this-day-in-1972-180986053/Dial Up the Story of the First 911 Call, Which Was Placed on This Day in 1968https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dial-up-the-story-of-the-first-911-call-which-was-placed-on-this-day-in-1968-180985980/Before the birth of the central emergency number, some rural Americans resorted to fireworks and loud noises to attract assistanceSun, 16 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dial-up-the-story-of-the-first-911-call-which-was-placed-on-this-day-in-1968-180985980/Discover How President Theodore Roosevelt Inspired the World’s First Teddy Bear, Which Went on Sale on This Day in 1903https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/discover-how-president-theodore-roosevelt-inspired-the-worlds-first-teddy-bear-which-went-on-sale-on-this-day-in-1903-180986052/The unlikely origin story of the beloved children’s toy involves a hunting expedition in Onward, Mississippi, and a president who wanted to be a good sportsmanSat, 15 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/discover-how-president-theodore-roosevelt-inspired-the-worlds-first-teddy-bear-which-went-on-sale-on-this-day-in-1903-180986052/When Al Capone's Henchmen Marked Valentine's Day With a Bloody Massacrehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-al-capones-henchmen-marked-valentines-day-with-a-bloody-massacre-180985979/The infamous mob assassination, which took place on this day in 1929, resulted in the deaths of seven men linked to gangster George "Bugs" MoranFri, 14 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-al-capones-henchmen-marked-valentines-day-with-a-bloody-massacre-180985979/