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1983

Vanessa Williams becomes the first black Miss America.

Vanessa Williams becomes the first black Miss America.

1961

The world's first retractable roof stadium, the Civic Arena, opens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The world's first retractable roof stadium, the Civic Arena, opens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1849

American abolitionist Harriet Tubman makes her first attempt to escape from slavery.

American abolitionist Harriet Tubman makes her first attempt to escape from slavery.

1778

The Treaty of Fort Pitt is signed. It is the first formal treaty between the United States and a Native American tribe.

The Treaty of Fort Pitt is signed. It is the first formal treaty between the United States and a Native American tribe.

1543

The first Finnish-language book, the Abckiria by Mikael Agricola, is published in Stockholm.

The first Finnish-language book, the Abckiria by Mikael Agricola, is published in Stockholm.

1980

Solidarity, a Polish trade union, was founded as the first independent labor union in an Eastern Bloc country.

Solidarity, a Polish trade union, was founded as the first independent labor union in an Eastern Bloc country.

2010

Philippe Croizon becomes the first quadruple amputee to swim across the English Channel.

Philippe Croizon becomes the first quadruple amputee to swim across the English Channel.

2001

First mailing of anthrax letters from Trenton, New Jersey in the 2001 anthrax attacks.

First mailing of anthrax letters from Trenton, New Jersey in the 2001 anthrax attacks.

1984

Joe Kittinger completes the first solo balloon crossing of the Atlantic.

Joe Kittinger completes the first solo balloon crossing of the Atlantic.

1977

Voyager I takes the first distant photograph of the Earth and the Moon together.

Voyager I takes the first distant photograph of the Earth and the Moon together.

1964

The first television adaptation of Charles Addams's "The Addams Family" premieres on ABC Television.

The first television adaptation of Charles Addams's "The Addams Family" premieres on ABC Television.

1958

The Bank of America introduces its first credit card, the BankAmericard (later renamed the VISA Card), in a test…

The Bank of America introduces its first credit card, the BankAmericard (later renamed the VISA Card), in a test market in Fresno County, California.

1954

Finnish president J. K. Paasikivi becomes the first Western head of state to be awarded the highest honor of the…

Finnish president J. K. Paasikivi becomes the first Western head of state to be awarded the highest honor of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin.

1950

TV Tupi Difusora, the first television station to broadcast in Brazil, begins transmissions on Channel 3 in São Paulo.

TV Tupi Difusora, the first television station to broadcast in Brazil, begins transmissions on Channel 3 in São Paulo.

1948

Margaret Chase Smith of Maine becomes the first woman elected to the United States Senate without completing another…

Margaret Chase Smith of Maine becomes the first woman elected to the United States Senate without completing another senator's term.

1928

Juan de la Cierva makes the first Autogyro crossing of the English Channel.

Juan de la Cierva makes the first Autogyro crossing of the English Channel.

1919

Fritz Pollard becomes the first African American to play professional football for a major team, the Akron Pros.

Fritz Pollard becomes the first African American to play professional football for a major team, the Akron Pros.

1915

The Saturday Evening Post publishes the short story "Extricating Young Gussie" by P.G. Wodehouse, featuring the first…

The Saturday Evening Post publishes the short story "Extricating Young Gussie" by P.G. Wodehouse, featuring the first appearance of Bertie Wooster and his valet Jeeves.

1910

In Washington, D.C., George Owen Squier demonstrated the first system to allow multiplexing of telephone…

In Washington, D.C., George Owen Squier demonstrated the first system to allow multiplexing of telephone transmissions, sending a message between two laboratories of the U.S. Signal Corps.

1897

Veal Oscar, a dish of veal, seafood, asparagus, and Bernaise sauce, is first served at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm,…

Veal Oscar, a dish of veal, seafood, asparagus, and Bernaise sauce, is first served at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, in honour of the 25th anniversary of the reign of King Oscar II of Sweden and Norw�