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1963

Soviet Space Program: Vostok 6 mission: Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space

Soviet Space Program: Vostok 6 mission: Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space.

1903

Roald Amundsen leaves Oslo, Norway, to commence the first east–west navigation of the Northwest Passage

Roald Amundsen leaves Oslo, Norway, to commence the first east–west navigation of the Northwest Passage.

1884

The first purpose-built roller coaster, LaMarcus Adna Thompson's "Switchback Railway", opens in New York's Coney Island

The first purpose-built roller coaster, LaMarcus Adna Thompson's "Switchback Railway", opens in New York's Coney Island amusement park.

1632

The Plymouth Company granted a land patent to Thomas Purchase, the first settler of Pejepscot, Maine, settling at the si

The Plymouth Company granted a land patent to Thomas Purchase, the first settler of Pejepscot, Maine, settling at the site of Fort Andross.

2021

Juneteenth National Independence Day, was signed into law by President Joe Biden, to become the first federal holiday es

Juneteenth National Independence Day, was signed into law by President Joe Biden, to become the first federal holiday established since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.

1985

Space Shuttle program: STS-51-G mission: Space Shuttle Discovery launches carrying Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Sa

Space Shuttle program: STS-51-G mission: Space Shuttle Discovery launches carrying Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the first Arab and first Muslim in space, as a payload specialist.

1967

Nuclear weapons testing: China announces a successful test of its first thermonuclear weapon

Nuclear weapons testing: China announces a successful test of its first thermonuclear weapon.

1901

The College Board introduces its first standardized test, the forerunner to the SAT

The College Board introduces its first standardized test, the forerunner to the SAT.

1843

The Wairau Affray, the first serious clash of arms between Māori and British settlers in the New Zealand Wars, takes pla

The Wairau Affray, the first serious clash of arms between Māori and British settlers in the New Zealand Wars, takes place.

1831

The steam locomotive Best Friend of Charleston causes the first boiler explosion caused by a steam locomotive

The steam locomotive Best Friend of Charleston causes the first boiler explosion caused by a steam locomotive.

1767

Samuel Wallis, a British sea captain, sights Tahiti and is considered the first European to reach the island

Samuel Wallis, a British sea captain, sights Tahiti and is considered the first European to reach the island.

1673

French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet reach the Mississippi River and become the first Europeans to make

French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet reach the Mississippi River and become the first Europeans to make a detailed account of its course.

2006

The first Kazakh space satellite, KazSat-1 is launched

The first Kazakh space satellite, KazSat-1 is launched.

1983

Space Shuttle program: STS-7, Astronaut Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space

Space Shuttle program: STS-7, Astronaut Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space.

1928

Aviator Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly in an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean (she is a passenger; Wilm

Aviator Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly in an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean (she is a passenger; Wilmer Stultz is the pilot and Lou Gordon the mechanic).

1859

First ascent of Aletschhorn, second summit of the Bernese Alps

First ascent of Aletschhorn, second summit of the Bernese Alps.

1264

The Parliament of Ireland meets at Castledermot in County Kildare, the first definitively known meeting of this Irish le

The Parliament of Ireland meets at Castledermot in County Kildare, the first definitively known meeting of this Irish legislature.

1978

Garfield's first comic strip, originally published locally as Jon in 1976, goes into nationwide syndication

Garfield's first comic strip, originally published locally as Jon in 1976, goes into nationwide syndication.

1910

The first Father's Day is celebrated in Spokane, Washington

The first Father's Day is celebrated in Spokane, Washington.

1846

The first officially recorded, organized baseball game is played under Alexander Cartwright's rules on Hoboken, New Jers

The first officially recorded, organized baseball game is played under Alexander Cartwright's rules on Hoboken, New Jersey's Elysian Fields with the New York Base Ball Club defeating the Knickerbocker�