February 17 has been a day of revolutionary movements, scientific achievements, and artistic milestones.
Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake for heresy in Rome's Campo de' Fiori. He had proposed that the universe was infinite and that stars were distant suns with their own planets.
The House of Representatives elected Thomas Jefferson as the third President after an Electoral College tie with Aaron Burr. The crisis led to the 12th Amendment, changing presidential election procedures.
Baltimore became the first American city to illuminate its streets with gas-powered lights. The innovation quickly spread to other major cities.
The Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley became the first submarine to sink an enemy warship, torpedoing the USS Housatonic. However, the Hunley was also lost with all hands.
Giacomo Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly premiered at La Scala in Milan. Though initially a failure, the revised version became one of the most beloved operas ever written.
The first issue of Newsweek magazine hit newsstands. The weekly publication would become one of America's most influential news magazines for decades.
The Volkswagen Beetle surpassed the Ford Model T's production record of 15 million vehicles. The Beetle became the best-selling car in history.