Today:
1. 1844 – YMCA Founded: The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was founded in London by George Williams. It aimed to provide a healthy environment for young men and promote Christian values.
2. 1912 – Mount Novarupta Eruption: The largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century occurred at Mount Novarupta in Alaska, which resulted in the formation of the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.
3. 1933 – First Drive-In Theater Opens: The first drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, New Jersey, founded by Richard Hollingshead.
4. 1934 – Securities Exchange Act: The United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 was enacted, creating the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to regulate the securities industry and protect investors.
5. 1942 – Battle of Midway: The Battle of Midway, a pivotal naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II, ended with a decisive victory for the United States against Japan.
6. 1944 – D-Day: Allied forces launched a massive invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France, during World War II. This operation, known as D-Day, was a turning point in the war and led to the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation.
7. 1949 – George Orwell’s “1984” Published: George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984” was published. The book has since become a classic in modern literature, exploring themes of totalitarianism and surveillance.
8. 1965 – Gemini 4 Mission: Astronaut Edward H. White II performed the first American spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission.
9. 1968 – Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy: Senator Robert F. Kennedy died from gunshot wounds inflicted the previous day after being shot by Sirhan Sirhan in Los Angeles.
10. 1982 – Lebanon War: Israeli forces invaded southern Lebanon to combat the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in an operation known as the Lebanon War or Operation Peace for Galilee.