1630 – Native American Indians introduce pilgrims to popcorn, at Thanksgiving.
1775 – 1st US joint stock company (to make cloth) offers shares at 10 cents.
1821 – Spain sells (east) Florida to United States for $5 million.
1856 – 1st national meeting of Republican Party (Pittsburgh)
1900 – Hawaii becomes a US territory.
1923 – Transcontinental airmail service begins.
1934 – “It Happened One Night” directed by Frank Capra and starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert opens at NY’s Radio City Music Hall. (Academy Awards Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay 1935)
1942 – World War II: President Franklin Roosevelt orders General Douglas MacArthur out of the Philippines as American defenses collapse.
1958 – 15th Golden Gloves: “The Bridge on the River Kwai”, Alec Guinness, & Joanne Woodward win.
1959 – 1st Daytona 500: Lee Petty wins (135.521 MPH)
1973 – US & China agree to establish liaison offices in Beijing & Washington, D.C.
1980 – USA beats USSR in Olympic hockey 4-3, referred to as “Miracle on Ice”. USA captain Mike Eruzione scores winning goal in 3rd period.
1992 – Barry Diller resigns as CEO of Fox.
1996 – STS 75 (Columbia 19), launches into orbit.
1998 – “King & I” closes at Neil Simon Theater NYC after 781 performances.
1998 – 18th Winter Olympic games close at Nagano, Japan.
2005 – 19th Soap Opera Digest Awards – “General Hospital” wins.
2014 – 45th NAACP Image Awards: “12 Years a Slave” wins Outstanding Motion Picture.
2015 – 87th Academy Awards: “Birdman” Best Film and Director (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu), Eddie Redmayne and Julianne Moore – Best Actor and Actress.
2017 – US President Donald Trump overturns Obama directive on Transgender rights to use toilets.