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Today in History

Henry Ford Put the World on Wheels

Editor's note: I often marvel at the pace of invention and innovation in the early years of the 20th century. In December 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright conquered human, powered flight in an airplane they made at their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio and flew for the first time...

August 05

1957: The television show, American Bandstand, premiered. Dick Clark hosted the popular show from 1956 until it ended in 1989. It started as a local Philadelphia show and then became a national show.

1858: Julia Archibald Holmes became the first woman on record to reach the summit of Pikes Peak. She, her husband James Holmes, and two others began their trek on August 1. For the ascent, Julia Holmes wore what she called her "American costume" - a short dress, bloomers, moccasins, and a hat. In a letter written to her mother from the summit, she said: "I have accomplished the task which I marked out for myself. Nearly everyone tried to discourage me from attempting it, but I believed that I should succeed."
(Source: Library of Congress)

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