History: What Happened Today?

1. In 1590, John White returns to Roanoke, VA and found no trace of the colonists that he had left there 3 years earlier.
2. In 1807, Robert Fulton's steamboat "Clermont" begins its first trip up the Hudson River.
3. In 1870, a group of climbers begin the first ascent of Mt. Rainier, Washington.
4. In 1896, a party of prospectors discovered gold in Alaska, an event that started the Klondike gold rush.
5. In 1903, Joe Pulizer donated $1 million to Columbia University and thus began the award for Pulitzer Prize.
6. In 1942, U.S. forces undertake their first European bombing run of WWII.
7. In 1957, Phillies' outfielder Richie Ashburn hit a foul ball into the stands that struck spectator Alice Roth, wife of Philadelphia Bulletin sports editor Earl Roth, breaking her nose. When play resumed, Ashburn fouled off another ball that struck Roth while she was being carried off in a stretcher.
8. In 1962, The Beatles replace drummer Pete Best with Ringo Starr.
9. In 1978, 3 Americans perform the first successful crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by balloon.
10. In 2008, Michael Phelps and three teammates won the 400-meter IM relay for Phelps' record breaking eighth gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.
11. Famous Birthdays: Marcus Garvey (early civil rights leader), Robert DeNiro (actor), Pierre de Fermat (French mathematician), Davy Crockett (American frontiersman), Mae West (actress)

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

Click Here for Yesterday in History: August 16

Click Here for Tomorrow in History: August 18

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.