August 10 has seen the Smithsonian founded, revolutionary mobs storm palaces, and architectural wonders completed.
President James K. Polk signed legislation creating the Smithsonian Institution with funds from British scientist James Smithson's bequest. It grew into the world's largest museum and research complex.
A Parisian mob stormed the Tuileries Palace, effectively ending the French monarchy. King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were arrested, and the radical phase of the French Revolution began.
The first declaration of independence in Ecuador was proclaimed in Quito, beginning the struggle against Spanish colonial rule. Full independence would not come until 1822.
The Swedish warship Vasa sank on her maiden voyage in Stockholm harbor after sailing just 1,300 meters. The perfectly preserved ship was raised in 1961 and is now Sweden's most popular museum.
The first Proms concert was held at the Queen's Hall in London, organized by Henry Wood. The BBC Proms became the world's most famous classical music festival, culminating in the iconic Last Night.
NASA's Magellan spacecraft entered orbit around Venus and began mapping the planet's surface using radar. It revealed a volcanic landscape with more volcanoes than any other planet in the solar system.
The Ottoman Empire signed the Treaty of Sèvres with the Allied Powers, dismembering the empire. The harsh terms were later superseded by the Treaty of Lausanne, which established modern Turkey.