Today in history

1778 The United States signed its first treaty with a Native American tribe, the Delaware Nation.

1787 The Constitution of the United States of America was signed by delegates at the Constitutional Convention.

1796 U.S. President George Washington’s Farewell Address was read before the U.S. Congress.

1872 Phillip W. Pratt patented a version of the sprinkler system.

1920 The American Professional Football Association was formed in Canton, OH. It was the precursor to the National Football League (NFL).

1930 Construction on Boulder Dam, later renamed Hoover Dam, began in Black Canyon, near Las Vegas, NV.

1932 Sir Malcolm Campbell set a speed record when he reached 276.27 mph over a half mile.

1937 At Mount Rushmore, Abraham Lincoln’s face was dedicated.

1953 Ernie Banks became the first black baseball player to wear a Chicago Cubs uniform. He retired in 1971 known as ‘Mr. Cub’.

1953 The Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, LA, successfully separated Siamese twins. Carolyn Anne and Catherine Anne Mouton were connected at the waist when born.

1955 “The Perry Como Show” moved to Saturday nights on NBC-TV.

1962 U.S. space officials announced the selection of Neil A. Armstrong and eight others as new astronauts.

1963 “The Fugitive” premiered on ABC-TV. The show starred David Janssen.

1964 “Bewitched” premiered on ABC-TV.

1965 “Hogan’s Heroes” debuted on CBS-TV.

1966 “Mission Impossible” premiered on CBS-TV. 1972 “M*A*S*H” premiered on CBS-TV.

1976 NASA unveiled the space shuttle Enterprise in Palmdale, CA.

1983 Vanessa Williams, as Miss New York, became the first black woman to be crowned Miss America.

1983 Johnny Bench (Cincinnati Reds) retired after 16 years as a catcher.

1984 Gordon P. Getty was named the richest person in the U.S. His fortune was $4.1 billion.

1984 Reggie Jackson hit his 500th career home run. It was exactly 17 years from the day he hit his first major league home run.