History Today

Hello, and welcome to This Day in History. Here’s what happened on January 5th.

Ever heard it said that half of all marriages end in divorce? Turns out that stat is out of date, and that the U.S. divorce rate is actually on the decline, though, according to the CDC there are still about 3.2 divorces per every 1,000 Americans.

Nancy Pelosi became Speaker of the House, again, Utah became a state, and Nixon refused to hand over tapes.

Martin Luther excommunicated, King Tut's sarcophagus uncovered, and Alaska became a state.

Air Conditioning invented, Georgia became a state, and Nixon signed speed limit law.

Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation, Haiti declared independence, and the Man in Black performed at San Quentin.

Hello, and welcome to This Day in History. Here’s what happened on December 31st.

As you watch the brightly lit ball go down tonight in Times Square, take a moment to thank inventor Thomas Edison, who made the first public demonstration of his incandescent light bulb on this day in 1879.

Hello, and welcome to This Day in History. Here’s what happened on December 30th.

Though it lasted less than 70 years, it had an enormous impact on world history: On this day in 1922, the USSR, or Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was established.

Hello, and welcome to This Day in History. Here’s what happened on December 29th.

The young have often been at the forefront of social change, and this day in 1852 was no different. That’s when 17-year-old Emma Snodgrass was arrested in Boston for wearing pants, a habit that had also made the petite daughter of a New York City police officer a sensation in Boston newspapers.

Hello, and welcome to This Day in History. Here’s what happened on December 27th.

If you’ve ever visited New York City, then you’ve likely at least walked past the famous Radio City Music Hall, which opened to the public on this day in 1932.

Hello, and welcome to This Day in History. Here’s what happened on December 26th.

If you’re celebrating Kwanzaa today, you’re taking part in a tradition that dates back to this day in 1966. That’s when the very first Kwanzaa was celebrated in Los Angeles under the direction of Cal State professor Maulana Karenga.