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1975

Junko Tabei from Japan becomes the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest

Junko Tabei from Japan becomes the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

1960

Theodore Maiman operates the first optical laser (a ruby laser), at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California

Theodore Maiman operates the first optical laser (a ruby laser), at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California.

1959

The Tritons' Fountain in Valletta, Malta is turned on for the first time

The Tritons' Fountain in Valletta, Malta is turned on for the first time.

1951

The first regularly scheduled transatlantic flights begin between Idlewild Airport (now John F Kennedy International Air

The first regularly scheduled transatlantic flights begin between Idlewild Airport (now John F Kennedy International Airport) in New York City and Heathrow Airport in London, operated by El Al Israel�

1929

In Hollywood, the first Academy Awards ceremony takes place

In Hollywood, the first Academy Awards ceremony takes place.

1925

The first modern performance of Claudio Monteverdi's opera Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria occurred in Paris

The first modern performance of Claudio Monteverdi's opera Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria occurred in Paris.

1891

The International Electrotechnical Exhibition opened in Frankfurt, Germany, featuring the world's first long-distance tr

The International Electrotechnical Exhibition opened in Frankfurt, Germany, featuring the world's first long-distance transmission of high-power, three-phase electric current (the most common form tod�

1842

The first major wagon train heading for the Pacific Northwest sets out on the Oregon Trail from Elm Grove, Missouri, wit

The first major wagon train heading for the Pacific Northwest sets out on the Oregon Trail from Elm Grove, Missouri, with 100 pioneers.

1204

Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire

Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire.

1961

Venera program: Venera 1 becomes the first man-made object to fly by another planet by passing Venus (the probe had lost

Venera program: Venera 1 becomes the first man-made object to fly by another planet by passing Venus (the probe had lost contact with Earth a month earlier and did not send back any data).

1911

Parks Canada, the world's first national park service, is established as the Dominion Parks Branch under the Department

Parks Canada, the world's first national park service, is established as the Dominion Parks Branch under the Department of the Interior.

1883

Buffalo Bill's first Buffalo Bill's Wild West opens in Omaha, Nebraska

Buffalo Bill's first Buffalo Bill's Wild West opens in Omaha, Nebraska.

1445

John II of Castile defeats the Infantes of Aragon at the First Battle of Olmedo

John II of Castile defeats the Infantes of Aragon at the First Battle of Olmedo.

2011

Mamata Banerjee is sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, the first woman to hold this post

Mamata Banerjee is sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, the first woman to hold this post.

1990

The first post-Communist presidential and parliamentary elections are held in Romania

The first post-Communist presidential and parliamentary elections are held in Romania.

1983

First publications of the discovery of the HIV virus that causes AIDS in the journal Science by a team of French scienti

First publications of the discovery of the HIV virus that causes AIDS in the journal Science by a team of French scientists including Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Jean-Claude Chermann, and Luc Montagnier�

1956

In Operation Redwing, the first United States airborne hydrogen bomb is dropped over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean

In Operation Redwing, the first United States airborne hydrogen bomb is dropped over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

1948

Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek wins the 1948 Republic of China presidential election and is sworn in as the first Preside

Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek wins the 1948 Republic of China presidential election and is sworn in as the first President of the Republic of China at Nanjing.

1940

The Holocaust: The first prisoners arrive at a new concentration camp at Auschwitz

The Holocaust: The first prisoners arrive at a new concentration camp at Auschwitz.

1932

Amelia Earhart takes off from Newfoundland to begin the world's first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean by a

Amelia Earhart takes off from Newfoundland to begin the world's first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean by a female pilot, landing in Ireland the next day.