
1900 – The United States gained control over Tutuila in Samoa and several smaller Pacific Islands.
1915 – Congress authorizes the production of a $1 gold dollar and two $50 gold coins to commemorate the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco.
1919 – The 18th Amendment to the Constitution, authorizing the prohibition of alcohol, is ratified by a majority of the states.
1936 – First photo finish camera installed at Hialeah Race track in Hialeah, Florida.
1938 – First jazz concert held at Carnegie Hall, performed by Benny Goodman and his band.
1941 – Rear Admiral Patrick N.L. Bellinger warns of an assault on Pearl Harbor.
1951 – World’s largest gas pipeline opens in Brownsville Texas to New York City.
1952 – US Standard Board clears baseball player Stan Musial to get an $85,000 salary.
1957 – 3 B-52 bombers leave California for the first non-stop around-the-world flights.
1963 – Los Angeles nightclub and music venue The Whiskey A-Go-Go opens. It’s inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
1965 – The Searchers’ “Love Potion Number 9” peaks at #3.
1970 – Curt Flood files a civil lawsuit challenging baseball’s reserve clause.
1976 – “Donny & Marie” Osmond’s musical variety show premieres on ABC-TV.
1985 – “Playboy” announces end of stapling centerfolds.
1992 – Eric Clapton performs for an episode of MTV’s “Unplugged” at Bray film Studios in Windsor, England. Recording won six Grammy Awards and became Clapton’s best selling album and the bestselling live album of all time.
2001 – Fuel supply tanker Jessica runs aground off the island of San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands, causing an “ecological disaster” and spills over 500 liters of diesel and bunker fuel.
2003 – The Space Shuttle Columbia takes off for mission STS-107 which would be its final one. Columbia disintegrates 16 days later on re-entry.
2019 – Golden State guard Stephen Curry is the first player in NBA history to hit eight 3-point field goals in three consecutive games. He goes 9 of 17 in 3-point attempts in the Warriors’ 147-140 win over New Orleans. The teams combine for a NBA record 43 3-pointers.
2021 – India begins the vaccination of its 1.3 billion people for COVID-19.