October is a cool month for fun history facts…enjoy!
01 October 1890
On October 1, 1890, an act of Congress createdYosemite National Park, home of such natural wonders as Half Dome, El Capitan, and the giant sequoia trees. Paving the way for national parks and future generations of hikers, campers and nature lovers.
02 October 1959
The science-fiction TV series The Twilight Zone debuted – becoming popular for its unexpected plot twists and moral lessons.
03 October 1995
At the end of a sensational 252 day trial, former Buffalo Bills football star O.J. Simpson was acquitted of the brutal 1994 double murder of his former wife and her friend.
04 October 1923
American Actor and movie star, Charlton Heston was born.
05 October 2001
Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants broke Mark McGwire‘s single-season home-run record when he hit his 71st and 72nd home runs of the season – finishing the season with 73.
06 October 1866
The Reno brothers carried out the first train robbery of a traveling train in American history, making off with $13,000 from an Ohio and Mississippi railroad train in Jackson County, Indiana.
07 October 2003
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger – AKA The Governator – was elected governor of California, the most populous state in the nation with the world’s fifth-largest economy.
08 October 1957
Jerry Lee Lewis recorded “Great Balls Of Fire” in Memphis, Tennessee. Being such a magnetic personality, a producer would later say that “Little Richard was fun, Elvis was cool, but Jerry Lee Lewis was frightening.”
09 October 1936
On October 9, 1936, a dam initially named the Boulder Dam, harnessed the power of the Colorado River, and began sending electricity 266 miles away to turn on the lights of Los Angeles…that Dam??? The Hoover Dam.
10 October 1987
Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again” tops the charts. Featuring one of the most iconic music videos of the 1980s.
11 October 1975
The TV comedy and variety show Saturday Night Live debuted on NBC becoming a landmark in American television.
12 October 1870
Confederate General, Robert E. Lee, died at his home in Lexington, Virginia. He was 63 years old.
13 October 1903
The baseball team the Boston Americans defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates to win the first modern World Series. That team later became…the Boston Red Sox
14 October 1926
English author A.A. Milne first published Winnie-the-Pooh, a children’s book featuring the adventures of a honey-loving bear and his friends.
15 October 1951
The first episode of I Love Lucy aired on television. This comedy series—starring Lucille Ball and her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz—became an instant hit and american classic.
16 October 1923
On October 16, 1923, two brothers named Roy and Walt, founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio in Hollywood, California. The Walt Disney Company is now one of the largest media companies in the world.
17 October 1931
Gangster and Crime Boss Al Capone went to prison for tax evasion. He was caught by the infamous Elliot Ness and his team…also known as…The Untouchables.
18 October 1867
On October 18th, 1867, the U.S. took possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia for $7.2 million, or less than two cents an acre.
19 October 1781
British General Lord Cornwallis surrendered 8,000 British troops, effectively bringing an end to the American Revolution at Yorktown, Virginia.
20 October 1977
Three members of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd died in a Mississippi plane crash…that exact plane and flight was almost chartered by Aerosmith.
21 October 1964
The film My Fair Lady, starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn, had its world premiere. Later winning eight Academy Awards, including best picture.
22 October 1962
President John F. Kennedy alerted Americans to the Cuban missile crisis, declaring a naval blockade to prevent further missile shipments to the island country 90 miles off the coast of the U.S.
23 October 1998
Singer Britney Spears released her single …Baby One More Time, which, accompanied by the music video, became a huge hit and helped propel her to pop stardom.
24 October 2005
Civil rights activist Rosa Parks—whose refusal to relinquish her seat on a public bus to a white man in 1955 helping ignite the American civil rights movement—died at age 92.
25 October 1964
An unknown British rock band the Rolling Stones made its first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
26 October 1825
After some eight years of construction, the Erie Canal, finally connected the Great Lakes with New York City via the Hudson River. Its opening propelled New York City into a major commercial centre and encouraged canal construction throughout the United States.
27 October 1858
President and original Rough Rider, Theodore Roosevelt was born.
28 October 1886
U.S. President Grover Cleveland officially dedicated the Statue of Liberty
29 October 1929
The US Stock Market collapsed five days after nearly 13 million shares of U.S. stock were sold and an additional 16 million shares were sold this day…gaining it the nickname… “Black Tuesday”.
30 October 2003
Basketball player LeBron James, made his NBA debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers. after being drafted directly out of high school.
31 October 1864
The U.S. Congress admitted Nevada as the 36th state
