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License Plates: Identifying Vehicles Since 1893
On this date in 1901, New York became the first state in the U.S. to require license plates on automobiles. Here are some things you may not have known about license plates. The first license plates were issued in France in 1893. Germany followed in 1896 and The Netherlands in 1898. When plates were introduced…
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Archive: Annie Oakley Gets Her Gun
130 years ago, Annie Oakley was hired to join Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. Here are a few things you may not have known about Annie Oakley. One: Her real name was probably Phoebe Ann Moses. Or Mosey, Or Mauzy. She and her siblings never agreed on what their last name was. There is also…
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Archive: Introducing New Coke!
Thirty years ago, the Coca-Cola Company introduced New Coke, replacing the formula of its flagship soft drink. Here are some things you may not have known about the New Coke fiasco. One: In 1983, Pepsi-Cola had begun to outsell Coca-Cola in grocery stores. Coke believed that this was due to younger drinkers preferring the sweeter…
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Earth Day: Helping Save Our Planet
On this date in 1970, Earth Day was celebrated for the first time. Here are some things you may not have known about it. The first Earth Day was organized by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, who planned it as a day of environmental education. In New York, the event drew an estimated crowd of more…
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Loch Ness Monster: Missing since 1933
On this date in 1934, what went on to become known as the most famous photo of the purported Loch Ness Monster was published in The Daily Mail. Here are some things you may not have known about the Loch Ness Monster and other legendary beasts. The study of creatures whose existence has not been proven…
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Wrigley Field: Home of the Cubs for 100 Years
Today is the 100th anniversary of the Chicago Cubs’ first game played at what is now Wrigley Field. Here are some things you may not have known about the ballpark and the Cubs. The stadium was built in 1914 for the Chicago Whales of the Federal League. That team’s owner, Charles Weeghman, named the stadium…
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Lexington and Concord: The Start of Independence
On this date in 1775, the American Revolutionary War began with the battles of Lexington and Concord. Here are some things you may not have known about the start of the war and the battles themselves. Following the French and Indian War in 1763, the British government found itself deep in debt. Parliament passed several…
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Name Game: Country Edition
On this date in 1980, the Republic of Zimbabwe came into existence, replacing Rhodesia. Here are a few facts about countries that have been renamed. The most recent renaming of a country happened last week. The Czech Republic has decided it wants the short form of its name to be Czechia, along the same lines…
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Rand McNally: The Lost Episode
On this date in 1924, Rand McNally published its first road atlas. Here are some things you may not have known about the company that went on to become synonymous with road maps in the United States. The company was formed in 1868, when William Rand and Andrew McNally purchased the printing business of the…
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Black Sunday: The Worst Storm of the Dust Bowl
On this date in 1935, the Black Sunday dust storm pummeled the panhandles of the states of Oklahoma and Texas. Here are some things you may not have known about the worst storm of the Dust Bowl. First a little background. Poor farming techniques coupled with a severe drought were the major causes of the…