Video: 'The History of Groundhog Day'
(Wednesday, February 2, 1887) — Groundhog Day was celebrated for the first time today at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, with Punxsutawney Phil forecasting a “long winter.” Continue reading First Groundhog Day observed in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania 130 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1887)
Video: '#21 Chester A Arthur'
(Thursday, November 18, 1886, 5:10 a.m. local time) — Chester A. Arthur, the 21st President of the United States (1881-1885), having succeeded James A. Garfield upon the latter’s assassination, died today at his home at 123 Lexington Avenue in New York City of a stroke. Arthur was 57. Continue reading Former U.S. President Chester A. Arthur dies in New York City 130 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 18 1886)
Video: 'How They Built the Statue of Liberty.mov' (Oct. 28, 1886, at 16:37)
(Thursday, October 28, 1886, afternoon EST) — The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated today in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland. Continue reading President Cleveland dedicates Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor 130 years ago #OTD #OnThisDay (Oct 28 1886)
Video: 'Arsenal History Minutes | Geronimo’s Final Surrender | WQPT'
(Saturday, September 4, 1886; during the American Indian Wars) — After almost 30 years of fighting, a group of Apache Indians led by Geronimo (also known as Goyathlay, “One Who Yawns”) surrendered today to General Nelson Miles at Skeleton Canyon in Arizona. Continue reading Apache leader Geronimo surrenders to General Miles in Arizona 130 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 4 1886)
Video: '1886 Charleston Earthquake'
(Tuesday, August 31, 1886, 9:50 p.m. local time) — An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.3 today devastated Charleston, South Carolina, killing at least 60 people, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Video: 'Presidents in Our Backyard -- Grover Cleveland'
(Wednesday, June 2, 1886, 7:00 p.m. local time) — U.S. President Grover Cleveland, 49, married Frances Folsom, 21, today in the Blue Room of the White House, becoming the first (and to date, the only) president to marry in the executive mansion. Continue reading President Cleveland marries Frances Folsom in White House 130 years ago this hour (June 2 1886)
Video: 'John Pemberton invents Coca Cola for the Soda Fountain'
(Saturday, May 8, 1886) — Atlanta pharmacist John Pemberton today Jacob’s Pharmacy began selling the original version of Coca-Cola, which he’d invented as a non-alcoholic version of his French Wine Coca nerve tonic. Continue reading Atlanta pharmacist John Pemberton begins selling original Coca-Cola 130 years ago today (May 8 1886)
Video: 'PBS: Haymarket Affair and the Origins of May Day'
(Tuesday, May 4, 1886, 10:30 p.m. local time) — A labor demonstration for an 8-hour work day tonight at Haymarket Square in Chicago turned into a deadly riot when a bomb exploded; in all, seven policemen and at least four workers were killed.
(Wednesday, November 25, 1885, 5:00 p.m. local time) — Thomas A. Hendricks, the 21st Vice President of the United States (1885, under Grover Cleveland), suffered an apparent fatal heart attack today in Indianapolis, Indiana, after only less than nine months in office.
Following Hendricks’s death at age 66, the office of Vice-President was vacant for more than three years until March 4, 1889, when Levi P. Morton was inaugurated.
Hendricks was the fifth of seven U.S. Vice Presidents to die of natural causes while in office (1812-1912).
Video: 'Daimler Reitwagen 1885'
(Saturday, August 29, 1885) — Gottlieb Daimler today patented the world’s first internal combustion motorcycle, the Daimler Reitwagen (“riding wagon”), the forerunner of all vehicles, land, sea and air, that use its overwhelmingly popular engine type.
