On this day in 1900, the Gold Standard Act went into effect, making gold the sole standard for redeeming paper money.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this day in 1697, the Mayan city of Nojpetén fell to Spanish troops.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this day in 1912, Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this day in 1918, the first case of the Spanish flu was reported in the U.S.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this day in 1906, an explosion and fire in a French mine killed 1,099 people, making it one of the deadliest mining disasters in history. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this day in 1916, the Battle of Columbus began as a raid that Pancho Villa led on the border town of Columbus, New Mexico.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this day in 1957, the Suez Canal was reopened after being closed for several months during the Suez Crisis. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this day in 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave a speech in Dhaka encouraging people to prepare for a war for independence.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this day in 1869, Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev presented his periodic table.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this day in 1904, Nikola Tesla attempted to explain ball lightning in the publication Electrical World and Engineer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.