Video: '25th September 1513: Balboa becomes the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean from the New World'

(Sunday, September 25, 1513, before noon local time) — Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama today, becoming the first known European to see the Pacific Ocean. Continue reading Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa becomes first known European to see Pacific Ocean 510 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 25 1513) →

Video: 'The founding of the College of William and Mary'

(Wednesday, February 8, 1693) — The College of William & Mary, a public research university in Williamsburg in the Virginia Colony, was granted a charter today by Britain’s King William III under a royal charter (legally, letters patent) to “make, found and establish a certain Place of Universal Study, a perpetual College of Divinity, Philosophy, Languages, and other good arts and sciences … to be supported and maintained, in all time coming.” Continue reading College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, granted a charter by Britain’s King William III 330 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1693) →

Video: 'We Built This City: New York, The City That Never Sleeps - New York, USA History Documentary'

(Wednesday, February 2, 1653) — New York, often called New York City or NYC, the most populous city in the United States with a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over 300.46 square miles, was incorporated today as New Amsterdam. Continue reading New Amsterdam — now New York City — is incorporated 370 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1653) →

Video: 'On This Day 25 January 1533 Marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn'

(Saturday, January 25, 1533, just before dawn local time) — England’s King Henry VIII, seeking to father a legitimate male heir to the throne, secretly married his second wife Anne Boleyn today at Whitehall. Continue reading Henry VIII of England secretly marries Anne Boleyn, his second wife 490 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 25 1533) →

Video: 'How Christopher Columbus Found the New World | Discovery of America'

(Friday, October 12, 1492, about 2:00 a.m. local time) — After a five-week voyage across the Atlantic ocean, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus arrived early this morning with his three-ship expedition in present-day The Bahamas, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas. Continue reading Italian explorer Christopher Columbus reaches the New World, making landfall in what is now the Bahamas 530 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 12 1492) →

Video: 'Columbus Day: Christopher Columbus Sets Sail | History'

(Friday, August 3, 1492, evening local time) — Italian explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus departed from Palos de la Frontera, Spain, with three ships today on his first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean that would take him to the present-day Americas, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas. Continue reading Christopher Columbus sets sail from Palos de la Frontera, Spain to present-day Americas 530 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 3 1492) →

Video: 'Bridget Bishop - The First to Die in the Salem Witch Trials'

(Friday, June 10, 1692) — The first execution resulting from the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts took place today as Bridget Bishop, 60, was found guilty today of “certaine Detestable Arts called Witchcraft & Sorceries” and hanged in Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Continue reading Bridget Bishop hanged in first execution resulting from Salem witch trials 330 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 10 1692) →

Video: 'Joan of Arc Biography - The life of of Joan of Arc Documentary'

(Wednesday, May 30, 1431) — Joan of Arc, a 19-year-old French woman who said she had been sent to help Charles VII during the Hundred Years’ War, was burned at the stake today at the Old Marketplace in Rouen after a pro-English church court overseen by English commanders found her guilty of heresy. Continue reading Joan of Arc, 19, burned at the stake after heresy conviction by pro-English church court 590 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 30 1431) →

Video: 'Hernando de Soto - Explorer | Mini Bio | BIO'

(Sunday, May 8, 1541) — Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto today became the first European colonizer to reach the Mississippi River, the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system on the North American continent.
Continue reading Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto becomes first European colonizer to reach Mississippi River 480 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 8 1541) →

Video: '21st December 1620: The first Mayflower Pilgrims land at Plymouth to establish the Plymouth Colony'

(Thursday, December 21, 1620) — The first of the Mayflower Pilgrims landed today at Plymouth, Massachusetts, where they established the Plymouth Colony.
Continue reading The Pilgrims arrive in the New World aboard the Mayflower 400 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 21 1620) →