1871
Disaster
Great Chicago Fire
A devastating fire swept through Chicago, burning for two days and destroying over 17,000 structures. The fire killed approximately 300 people but led to Chicago's reconstruction as a modern architectural marvel.
On This Day in History
1871
Disaster
Peshtigo Fire
The deadliest wildfire in American history struck Peshtigo, Wisconsin, on the same night as the Chicago fire. The firestorm killed an estimated 1,500-2,500 people and burned over 1.2 million acres.
1918
War & Conflict
Alvin York's Heroic Action
Corporal Alvin York single-handedly killed 25 Germans and captured 132 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France. His extraordinary bravery earned him the Medal of Honor and made him America's most decorated WWI soldier.
1967
Politics
Che Guevara Captured
Argentine-born revolutionary Che Guevara was captured by Bolivian forces with CIA assistance. He was executed the following day, but his image became one of the most reproduced in the world.
1945
Politics
Harry Truman Reveals Atomic Secrets
President Truman announced that the United States would not share atomic bomb secrets with its allies. The decision intensified the nuclear arms race and shaped the early Cold War.
1998
Politics
House Votes to Begin Impeachment
The US House of Representatives voted to begin impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton. It was only the third time in history that the House initiated presidential impeachment.
1604
Science
Kepler's Supernova Observed
German astronomer Johannes Kepler observed a supernova in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was the last supernova visible to the naked eye in the Milky Way galaxy.