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1901

At the Royal Exhibition Building (pictured) in Melbourne, the flag of Australia flew for the first time.

At the Royal Exhibition Building (pictured) in Melbourne, the flag of Australia flew for the first time.

1934

Evelyn Waugh's novel A Handful of Dust was first published in full.

Evelyn Waugh's novel A Handful of Dust was first published in full.

1915

The Zimmerwald Conference, the first of three international socialist conferences forming the Zimmerwald movement,…

The Zimmerwald Conference, the first of three international socialist conferences forming the Zimmerwald movement, opened in Switzerland.

2000

The Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the first Pride Night in Major League Baseball history.

The Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the first Pride Night in Major League Baseball history.

1916

The first self-service grocery store, Piggly Wiggly, was founded in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.

The first self-service grocery store, Piggly Wiggly, was founded in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.

1492

Christopher Columbus set sail from San Sebastián de La Gomera in the Canary Islands on his first voyage across the…

Christopher Columbus set sail from San Sebastián de La Gomera in the Canary Islands on his first voyage across the Atlantic, discovering the Americas.

1986

Desmond Tutu (pictured) became the first black leader of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.

Desmond Tutu (pictured) became the first black leader of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.

1986

Desmond Tutu became the first black leader of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.

Desmond Tutu became the first black leader of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.

1999

The first banknotes of the Portrait Series of the Singapore dollar were introduced by the Board of Commissioners of…

The first banknotes of the Portrait Series of the Singapore dollar were introduced by the Board of Commissioners of Currency.

1957

U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the first civil rights bill since…

U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the first civil rights bill since Reconstruction.

1960

Running barefoot in the marathon event at the Rome Olympics, Abebe Bikila became the first athlete from sub-Saharan…

Running barefoot in the marathon event at the Rome Olympics, Abebe Bikila became the first athlete from sub-Saharan Africa to win an Olympic gold medal.

1724

Johann Sebastian Bach led the first performance of Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78, a chorale cantata based on a…

Johann Sebastian Bach led the first performance of Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78, a chorale cantata based on a passion hymn by Johann Rist.

1995

Mir EO-19, the first expedition to the Russian space station Mir launched on an American Space Shuttle, returned to…

Mir EO-19, the first expedition to the Russian space station Mir launched on an American Space Shuttle, returned to Earth after approximately 75 days in space.

1893

Swami Vivekananda (pictured) gave a speech introducing Hinduism on the opening day of the first Parliament of the…

Swami Vivekananda (pictured) gave a speech introducing Hinduism on the opening day of the first Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago.

1789

Alexander Hamilton (pictured), co-writer of The Federalist Papers, became the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

Alexander Hamilton (pictured), co-writer of The Federalist Papers, became the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

1992

Aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, American Mae Jemison became the first Black woman to travel to space.

Aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, American Mae Jemison became the first Black woman to travel to space.

1928

The Okeechobee hurricane first struck the island of Guadeloupe; eventually it reached the United States and caused…

The Okeechobee hurricane first struck the island of Guadeloupe; eventually it reached the United States and caused over 4,000 deaths overall.

1985

Super Mario Bros., one of the most influential and best-selling video games in history, was first released in Japan…

Super Mario Bros., one of the most influential and best-selling video games in history, was first released in Japan for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

1959

The Soviet spacecraft Luna 2 (model pictured) struck the Moon, the first spacecraft to reach another celestial body.

The Soviet spacecraft Luna 2 (model pictured) struck the Moon, the first spacecraft to reach another celestial body.

1937

Chicago Public Schools began delivering lessons via radio amid to a polio outbreak, marking the first large-scale use…

Chicago Public Schools began delivering lessons via radio amid to a polio outbreak, marking the first large-scale use of radio broadcasts for distance education.