996
Politics
Otto III Crowned Holy Roman Emperor
16-year-old Otto III was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Gregory V. His short reign was marked by grand visions of reviving the glory of ancient Rome.
On This Day in History
1502
Exploration
St. Helena Island Discovered
Portuguese navigator Joao da Nova discovered the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic. The remote island would later serve as Napoleon's place of exile.
1819
Invention
First Bicycles in the United States
The velocipede, an early form of bicycle, was introduced in the United States. The two-wheeled vehicle would undergo many improvements before becoming a popular mode of transportation.
1881
Culture
American Red Cross Founded
Clara Barton and associates founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. The humanitarian organization has provided disaster relief and emergency assistance ever since.
1927
Exploration
Lindbergh Lands in Paris
Charles Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St. Louis at Le Bourget airfield in Paris, completing the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight. A crowd of 150,000 rushed to greet him.
1961
Civil Rights
Freedom Riders Attacked in Alabama
Freedom Riders, protesting segregation in interstate bus travel, were brutally attacked by mobs in Anniston and Birmingham, Alabama. The violence drew national attention to racial injustice.
2012
Space
SpaceX Dragon Becomes First Commercial Spacecraft to ISS
SpaceX's Dragon capsule became the first commercial spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station. The mission marked a new era of commercial spaceflight.