TODAY in HISTORY

1776 — Declaration of Independence; U.S. gains independence from Britain

1802 — U.S. Military Academy officially opens (West Point, N.Y.)

1845 — Thoreau moves into his shack on Walden Pond

1865 — First edition of “Alice in Wonderland” is published

1884 — The Statue of Liberty presented to the U.S. in Paris

1894 — Republic of Hawaii established

1898 — French liner “La Bourgogne” collides with bark “Cromartyshire,” 50 die

1942 — First American bombing mission over enemy-occupied Europe (WWII)

1946 — The Philippines gains independence from the U.S.

1984 — Yuri Sedykh of USSR throws hammer a record 86.33 meters

1987 — Martina Navratilova wins 6th straight Wimbeldon defeats Steffi Graf

1987 — Nazi Klaus Barbie, “Butcher of Lyon” convicted by a French court