August 10: What Happened on This Day in History (Elementary Level)?

(Page last edited 10/12/2017)

1. In 1821, Missouri became the 24th state of the United States.
2. In 1846, Congress granted a charter to the Smithsonian Institution, named after the obscure English scientist James Smithson, whose bequest of $500,000 funded it.
3. In 1948, the TV show hosted by Allen Funt, "Smile, You're on Candid Camera!" debuted and had a very successful run for over fifty years.
4. In 1966, a daylight meteor was seen from Utah to Canada, the only known case of a meteor entering Earth's atmosphere and leaving it again.
5. In 2008, swimmer Michael Phelps won the first of his eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in the 400-meter individual medley.
6. Famous Birthdays: Herbert Hoover (31st President of the US), Leo Fender (inventor of musical instruments), Eddie Fisher (singer)

For famous birthdays and other daily events in history, visit our Daily Dose Activities.

Click Here for Yesterday in History: August 9

Click Here for Tomorrow in History: August 11

For more history resources on Internet 4 Classrooms, visit our Social Studies and History index. For Pre K-8th Grade Level History and Social Studies Resources, visit our Grade Level Index.