On this day, July 29

1856 The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad was incorporated and its line was opened through to Chicago from Allegheny.

1954 The state Department of Commerce issued a report showing 46 new industries or expansions in 1954 in the Pittsburgh district; investments totaled $125 million and 13,448 persons were added to payrolls.

1967 An accidental rocket launch on the deck of the supercarrier USS Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin resulted in a fire and explosions that killed 134 servicemen. (Among the survivors was future Arizona senator John McCain, a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander who narrowly escaped with his life.)

1999 The third highest rainfall in Pittsburgh area history took place, with 3.48 inches of rain recorded at Greater Pittsburgh International Airport.

Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology).

— Compiled by Rick Nowlin

Today’s birthdays: Former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum-Baker, 88. Actor Robert Fuller, 87. Former Sen. Elizabeth H. Dole, 84. Actor David Warner, 79. Actress Roz Kelly, 78. Actor Mike Starr, 70. Documentary maker Ken Burns, 67. Style guru Tim Gunn, 67. Rock singer-musician Geddy Lee (Rush), 67. Rock singer Patti Scialfa (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band), 67. Actor Kevin Chapman, 58. Actress Alexandra Paul, 57. Actor/comedian Dean Haglund, 55. Actor Wil Wheaton, 48. Actor Stephen Dorff, 47. Actor Josh Radnor, 46. Hip-hop DJ/music producer Danger Mouse, 43. Actress Rachel Miner, 40. Actress Allison Mack, 38. Thought for today: “An idea is not responsible for the people who believe in it.”

— Don Marquis, American journalist-author (born this date in 1878, died 1937)