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On This Day in History

Rosenthal’s iconic shot came early in the bloody campaign, and it led him to win the Pulitzer Prize for Photography that year.  

On This Day in History

The Story Behind the World-Famous Photograph of U.S. Marines Raising the American Flag During the Battle of Iwo Jima

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, Virginia

Dolly was a female sheep—and the first mammal ever cloned from an adult cell. Her preserved remains are on display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

On This Day in History

Why Scientists Kept the Birth of Dolly, the World’s First Cloned Mammal, a Secret for Seven Months

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 experimentation

For reasons scientists still don’t totally understand, these beautiful and mystical birds went extinct on February 21, 1918.

On This Day in History

The Last Member of This Bird Species Died in Captivity on This Day in 1918

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 parakeet

On February 20, 1792, George Washington made sure the post office would remain part of the federal government, establishing the postmaster role first held by Benjamin Franklin as the head of a permanent cabinet department, the Post Office Department.

On This Day in History

Neither Snow Nor Rain Nor Heat Nor Gloom Stopped the United States Post Office Department From Launching on This Day in 1792

The American Revolution cemented the importance of a federally protected post office in the minds of the people and politicians

Although the Donner-Reed party’s time on the Oregon Trail was filled with suffering, their story did little to slow westward migration.

On This Day in History

Donner Party Survivors Were Rescued on This Day in 1847 After Weeks of Frigid Conditions, Starvation and—Eventually—Cannibalism

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 party

Stained-glass windows depicting George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, and his wife, Isabel Neville

On This Day in History

Why an English King’s Traitorous Brother Was (Allegedly) Drowned in a Barrel of Wine

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 1478

The Beetle became the most produced—and most popular—car ever made, dethroning industry legend Henry Ford and his Model T.  

On This Day in History

With More Than 15 Million Made, This Iconic Car Became the World’s Most Popular on This Day in 1972

Blockbuster movies and the Beatles helped popularize Volkswagen’s uniquely shaped and affordable little car

Central emergency numbers have been around since London adopted 999 in 1937. But the U.S. relied on a convoluted system with various regional protocols until 1968.

On This Day in History

Dial Up the Story of the First 911 Call, Which Was Placed on This Day in 1968

Before the birth of the central emergency number, some rural Americans resorted to fireworks and loud noises to attract assistance

Though Roosevelt reportedly disliked the nickname “Teddy,” he had a soft spot for his namesake toy, bringing it to official White House functions and displaying it as part of his campaign.  

On This Day in History

Discover How President Theodore Roosevelt Inspired the World’s First Teddy Bear, Which Went on Sale on This Day in 1903

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 sportsman

Chicago officials re-enact the 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre.

On This Day in History

When Al Capone’s Henchmen Marked Valentine’s Day With a Bloody Massacre

The infamous mob assassination, which took place on this day in 1929, resulted in the deaths of seven men linked to gangster George “Bugs” Moran

William and Mary had a relatively short reign, but they left an outsized impact on the dynamics of the monarchy.

On This Day in History

The Ascension of William and Mary, Britain’s First Co-Monarchs, Marked a Victory for Protestantism

The equal rulers returned England to Protestant rule and began a new era of royal leadership defined by parliamentary oversight

Associated Press staff illustrator Noel Sickles's "artist's conception" of the crash of the USS Macon into the Pacific Ocean on 12 February 1935.

On This Day in History

A 785-Foot Airship Crashed on This Day in 1935. The Location of the Wreck Site Remained a Mystery for More Than 70 Years

The USS Macon crash brought a quick end to the U.S. Navy’s vision of “flying aircraft carriers” powered by helium gas

Best known for her semi-autobiographical novel The Bell Jar and poetry collections The Colossus and Ariel, Plath sourced much of the fodder for these great works from the troubled last years of her life.

On This Day in History

When This Brilliant Author Died, She Left Behind a Legacy of Grief, Haunting Poetry and Surprising Resilience

Modern accounts of Sylvia Plath’s renowned work and legacy seek to highlight the author’s resilience through a decade-long journey of depression

Victoria and Albert had a real spark between them—an anomaly in an age of dynastic marriages.

On This Day in History

One of Britain’s Most Beloved Royal Couples Wed on This Day in 1840

Queen Victoria’s marriage to Prince Albert popularized white wedding dresses. Later, her mourning of his passing cemented the image of a grieving widow in black

At 8 p.m., 73 million people tuned in to CBS to see the Beatles’ debut.

On This Day in History

On This Day in 1964, 73 Million Americans Tuned in to Watch the Biggest Act in Music

Teenage girls threw themselves behind the Beatles and helped Ed Sullivan create the most-watched television event of its time

Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in England on February 8, 1587.

On This Day in History

This Tragic European Monarch Was Executed for Treason on Her Cousin’s Orders

Elizabeth I ordered the beheading of Mary, Queen of Scots, a Catholic claimant to the English throne, on this day in 1587

Bubonic plague is one of three types of plague infections, all stemming from the Yersinia pestis bacterium.

On This Day in History

On This Day in 1900, the Bubonic Plague Hit the Continental United States, Spiraling Into an Epidemic That Killed 119 People

California officials denied—and tried to hide—the first plague epidemic that reached U.S. shores

Arthur Ashe playing tennis against Dennis Ralston in 1964

On This Day in History

The Death of a Sports Legend on This Day in 1993 Changed How Americans Viewed AIDS

Tennis star Arthur Ashe achieved many firsts as a Black athlete. In the months leading up to his death, he thrust AIDS advocacy into the mainstream

As the second-largest museum in the world, it is also one of the most visited and home to a reported three million objects.  

On This Day in History

The Breathtaking Hermitage Museum, Filled With Treasures Like the Kolyvan Vase and the Peacock Clock, First Opened to the Public on This Day in 1852

Russia’s palatial institution is now the second largest in the world, with an impressive collection of three million objects and 50 beloved house cats

Marilyn Monroe performs in front of service members in Korea in 1954.

On This Day in History

The Wartime Organization That Brought Hollywood Stars Like Marilyn Monroe and Nancy Sinatra to the Front Lines to Entertain the Troops

Established on this day in 1941, the United Service Organizations offers wholesome entertainment options to off-duty service members

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