TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

1931

“The Star-spangled Banner” became the national anthem of the United States as President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution.

1791

Congress passed a measure taxing distilled spirits; it was the first internal revenue act in U.S. history.

1845

Florida became the 27th state.

1863

President Abraham Lincoln signed a measure creating the National Academy of Sciences.

1887

Anne Sullivan arrived at the Tuscumbia, Alabama, home of Captain and Mrs. Arthur H. Keller to become the teacher for their deaf-blind 6-year-old daughter, Helen.

1943

In London’s East End, 173 people died in a crush of bodies at the Bethnal Green tube station, which was being used as a wartime air raid shelter.

1945

The Allies fully secured the Philippine capital of Manila from Japanese forces during World War II.

1960

Lucille Ball filed for divorce from her husband, Desi Arnaz, a day after they had finished filming the last episode of “The Lucille Balldesi Arnaz Show.”

1974

A Turkish Airlines DC-10 crashed shortly after takeoff from Orly Airport in Paris, killing all 346 people on board.

1991

Motorist Rodney King was severely beaten by Los Angeles police officers in a scene captured on amateur video. Twenty-five people were killed when a United Airlines Boeing 737-200 crashed while approaching the Colorado Springs airport.

2019

A tornado roared into the small community of Beauregard, Alabama, killing 23 people; it was the nation’s deadliest tornado in nearly six years.