On Jan. 2, 1959, the Soviet spacecraft Luna 1 launched, becoming the first spacecraft to escape Earth’s gravity.
Today in History: Soviet spacecraft Luna 1 launched
Category: History
Today in History: President Abraham Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation
On Jan. 1, 1863, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War, declaring that all enslaved people in rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free.”
Today in History: New York’s Times Square hosts first New Year’s Eve celebration
On Dec. 31, 1904, New York’s Times Square saw its first New Year’s Eve celebration, with an estimated 200,000 people in attendance.
Today in History: Iroquois Theater fire kills more than 600
On Dec. 30, 1903, more than 600 people died when fire broke out at the recently opened Iroquois Theater in Chicago.
Today in Sports History: Detroit Lions become first team to go winless through a 16-game season
2008 — The Detroit Lions lose to the Green Bay Packers 31-21, making them the first team to go winless through a 16-game season.
Today in History: First American ‘test-tube’ baby born
On Dec. 28, 1981, Elizabeth Jordan Carr, the first American “test-tube” baby, was born in Norfolk, Virginia.
Today in History: Benazir Bhutto assassinated
On Dec. 27, 2007, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a shooting and bomb attack that killed at least 20 people in the city of Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Vintage Chicago Tribune: Paul Durica’s top picks from 1924
This week we’re handing over the newsletter to Paul Durica, director of exhibitions at the Chicago History Museum. In his own words, he reflects on his past year of research and his favorite stories in the Tribune archives from 1924.
Vintage Chicago Tribune: Paul Durica’s July 1924 finds
Athletes with Chicago connections traveled to Paris a century ago to compete in the Summer Olympics — and several brought gold medals home.
Today in History: Kwanzaa first celebrated
On Dec. 26, 1966, Kwanzaa was first celebrated.