Queen Elizabeth I crowned (1559), Boston flood of molasses kills 20 (1919), Nixon suspends Vietnam fighting (1973), donkey mascot represents Democrats (1870), “witch of Buchenwald” sentenced (1951), first Superbowl played (1967), Coca-Cola Company formed (1889), Pentagon dedicated (1943), Wikipedia goes online (2001), Martin Luther King Jr. born (1929).
Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England. (1559) Elizabeth, daughter of the controversial monarch Henry VIII, became one of the most powerful and influential monarchs in British history. Known as the “Virgin Queen,” Elizabeth encouraged Protestantism in England, financed exploratory expeditions to America, and reigned over the English Renaissance.
A massive flood of molasses crippled Boston. (1919) A huge tank containing over 2.5 million gallons (about 9 million liters) of molasses exploded and killed more than 20 people. Eight-foot (2.5-meter) high waves of molasses swept through the city, destroying cars and injuring thousands.
President Nixon has suspended American fighting in North Vietnam. (1973) The Americans had been involved in Vietnam for over ten years and the war had become extremely unpopular. After 11 days of intense bombardment, the North Vietnamese agreed to peace talks and an agreement was finally reached.
The donkey mascot was first used to represent the Democratic party. (1870) Political cartoonist Thomas Nast used the donkey to represent Democrats in a drawing in Harper’s Weekly. Four years later, Nast gave the Republicans his own elephant symbol, which has endured ever since.
Ilse Koch, the “witch of Buchenwald”, was sentenced to prison. (1951) Koch was the wife of the Buchenwald concentration camp commandant. Known for her extreme sadism, Mrs. Koch frequently whipped and tortured prisoners and collected lampshades of their skin. Tried and sentenced to death, Ilse Koch committed suicide before her execution could be carried out.
The first Superbowl has been played. (1967) The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10. The sporting event would go on to become one of the most-watched telecasts on American TV, and became as beloved for its commercials as it was for the game.
The Coca-Cola Company is formed. (1889) Then known as the Pemberton Medicine Company, Coca-Cola was initially incorporated in Atlanta, which continued to serve as the company’s headquarters as it grew. At the time of its formation, the company sold Pemberton’s Indian Queen Hair Dye, Pemberton’s Globe Flower Cough Syrup, and Pemberton’s French Wine Cola, the predecessor of Coca-Cola.
The Pentagon has been dedicated. (1943) Home to American military operations, the Pentagon was also the largest office building in the world at the time of its dedication.
Wikipedia has gone online. (2001) The site started the trend of interactive “wiki” sites and has continued to become a source of basic information, despite concerns about its reliability.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born (1929) King was a major player in the civil rights movement and many of his speeches are still remembered and studied both as examples of great oration and for their historical value. His assassination in 1968 shocked the nation.
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