Today in history

On Jan. 2, 1492, Spaniards seized the city of Granada from the Moors. It had been the last Arab stronghold in Spain.

In 1788 Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the Constitution.

In 1893 the post office issued the first commemorative stamps, depicting events in the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus.

In 1905 Russian forces at Port Arthur in Manchuria surrendered to the Japanese, ending the last big military engagement of the Russo-Japanese War.

In 1921 religious services were broadcast for the first time when station KDKA in Pittsburgh transmitted the Sunday service from the city’s Calvary Episcopal Church.

In 1929 the U.S. and Canada agreed on joint action to preserve Niagara Falls.

In 1942 Manila was captured by Japan in World War II.

In 1943 American and Allied forces seized the New Guinea island of Buna from the Japanese.

In 1960 Sen. John F. Kennedy, D-Mass., announced his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

In 1965 the New York Jets signed University of Alabama quarterback Joe Namath for a reported $400,000.

In 1983 the musical “Annie” closed after 2,377 Broadway performances.

In 1984 W. Wilson Goode was sworn in as Philadelphia’s first African-American mayor.

In 1990 the Dow Jones industrial average reached a record high, ending the day above 2800 for the first time, at 2810.15.

In 1991 Sharon Pratt Dixon was sworn in as the first African-American female mayor of Washington.