August 24 has brought volcanic devastation, burning capitals, and moments that altered the course of civilization.
Mount Vesuvius's catastrophic eruption buried the Roman city of Pompeii under meters of volcanic ash, killing thousands. The preserved ruins were rediscovered in 1748 and provide unparalleled insight into Roman daily life.
Visigoths under King Alaric captured and sacked Rome for the first time in 800 years. The fall of the 'Eternal City' shocked the Roman world and symbolized the decline of the Western Roman Empire.
British forces captured Washington DC and burned the White House, Capitol, and other government buildings during the War of 1812. First Lady Dolley Madison famously saved a portrait of George Washington.
Catholic mobs began massacring Huguenot Protestants in Paris, with the violence spreading across France. An estimated 10,000-30,000 Huguenots were killed in one of the bloodiest episodes of the Wars of Religion.
The International Astronomical Union voted to reclassify Pluto as a 'dwarf planet,' reducing the number of planets in our solar system from nine to eight. The decision sparked public outcry and scientific debate.
Microsoft launched Windows 95 with a massive marketing campaign, including the Rolling Stones' 'Start Me Up.' The operating system introduced the Start menu and taskbar, defining PC computing for a generation.
Edison received a patent for his Kinetoscope, a motion picture camera and viewer. The invention laid the groundwork for the film industry that would become one of the most powerful cultural forces in history.