Walt Witman's 'Leaves of Grass' was published on this day in 1855. / On this day in 1997, Mars Pathfinder landed on Mars.

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The artifact known as the Phaistos Disc was discovered on this day in 1908. / On this day in 1938, the world speed record for steam locomotives was set when Mallard when 126 miles per hour.

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A rebellion took place aboard the slave ship Amistad on this day in 1839. / On this day in 1925, Congolese politician, Pan-Africanist, and independence leader Patrice Lumumba was born.

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Ignaz Semmelweis, known as the father of infection control, was born on this day in 1818. / On this day in 1960, Ghana was declared a republic, and Kwame Nkrumah was inaugurated as president.

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At 11:59 p.m. and 60 seconds, a leap second was added to Coordinated Universal Time to synchronize clocks with Earth’s decelerating rotation. 

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On this day in 1613, the Globe Theatre in London, famous for hosting performances of Shakespeare's plays, was destroyed in a fire.

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On this day in 1951, "The Amos 'n' Andy Show” premiered on CBS TV.

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On this day in 1844, Joseph Smith, the leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, was murdered alongside his brother Hyrum by a mob in Carthage, Illinois.

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The Winnipeg General Strike officially ended when the strike leaders called it off.

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On this day in 1978, the rainbow flag, made specifically to represent the LGBTQ community, was flown for the first time at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade.

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