The Event Registry

1809

1809

Louis Braille born

Louis Braille, the French inventor of the Braille reading system for the blind, was born. His development of a raised-dot alphabet (published in 1829) revolutionized education and literacy for visually impaired people worldwide

January 4 National 0

1809

1809

Louis Braille born

Louis Braille, the French inventor of the Braille reading system for the blind, was born. His development of a raised-dot alphabet (published in 1829) revolutionized education and literacy for visually impaired people worldwide

January 4 National 0

1972

1972

Space Shuttle program announced

U.S. President Richard Nixon revealed NASA’s Space Shuttle program. This commitment to reusable spacecraft led to the first shuttle flight in 1981 and a new era of orbital missions, dramatically influencing space exploration for the next 30 years

January 5 National 0

1972

1972

Space Shuttle program announced

U.S. President Richard Nixon revealed NASA’s Space Shuttle program. This commitment to reusable spacecraft led to the first shuttle flight in 1981 and a new era of orbital missions, dramatically influencing space exploration for the next 30 years

January 5 National 0

1933

1933

Golden Gate Bridge construction begins

Work started on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Completed in 1937, it became an engineering marvel and one of the most recognizable bridges in the world, transforming Bay Area transportation

January 5 National 0

1933

1933

Golden Gate Bridge construction begins

Work started on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Completed in 1937, it became an engineering marvel and one of the most recognizable bridges in the world, transforming Bay Area transportation

January 5 National 0

1914

1914

Ford’s $5 workday

Industrialist Henry Ford announced a minimum wage of $5 per day for his auto workers (more than doubling the average wage) and a shorter workday. This revolutionary move improved workers’ living standards and reduced turnover, while helping create a consumer base for his Model T

January 5 National 1

1914

1914

Ford’s $5 workday

Industrialist Henry Ford announced a minimum wage of $5 per day for his auto workers (more than doubling the average wage) and a shorter workday. This revolutionary move improved workers’ living standards and reduced turnover, while helping create a consumer base for his Model T

January 5 National 1

2021

2021

U.S

Capitol attack. A violent mob stormed the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., disrupting the certification of the presidential election. The unprecedented attack resulted in deaths, widespread condemnation, and a second impeachment of President Donald Trump, highlighting severe strains in American democracy

January 6 National 0

2021

2021

U.S

Capitol attack. A violent mob stormed the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., disrupting the certification of the presidential election. The unprecedented attack resulted in deaths, widespread condemnation, and a second impeachment of President Donald Trump, highlighting severe strains in American democracy

January 6 National 0

1941

1941

FDR’s Four Freedoms speech

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his State of the Union address articulating the “Four Freedoms” (Freedom of speech, Freedom of worship, Freedom from want, Freedom from fear)

January 6 National 0

1941

1941

FDR’s Four Freedoms speech

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his State of the Union address articulating the “Four Freedoms” (Freedom of speech, Freedom of worship, Freedom from want, Freedom from fear)

January 6 National 0

1766

1766

Founding of Salem, North Carolina

The Moravian community began building the town of Salem (now part of Winston-Salem) on January 6, 1766, after selecting the site in 1765. The first tree was felled that day, marking the establishment of this planned Moravian settlement

January 6 Roanoke-Greensboro Corridor Local 0

1766

1766

Founding of Salem, North Carolina

The Moravian community began building the town of Salem (now part of Winston-Salem) on January 6, 1766, after selecting the site in 1765. The first tree was felled that day, marking the establishment of this planned Moravian settlement

January 6 Roanoke-Greensboro Corridor Local 0

1927

1927

Harlem Globetrotters debut

The Harlem Globetrotters basketball team played their first game, in Hinckley, Illinois. Blending athleticism with crowd-pleasing comedy, the all-Black team became global ambassadors for basketball and entertainment, even as segregation barred them from professional leagues for decades

January 7 National 1

1927

1927

Harlem Globetrotters debut

The Harlem Globetrotters basketball team played their first game, in Hinckley, Illinois. Blending athleticism with crowd-pleasing comedy, the all-Black team became global ambassadors for basketball and entertainment, even as segregation barred them from professional leagues for decades

January 7 National 1

1789

1789

First U.S

presidential election. The first nationwide U.S. presidential election was held. Voters (selected by state legislatures in many cases) began casting ballots on this day; by February, George Washington would be unanimously elected as the nation’s first president, setting the stage for the American presidency

January 7 National 0

1789

1789

First U.S

presidential election. The first nationwide U.S. presidential election was held. Voters (selected by state legislatures in many cases) began casting ballots on this day; by February, George Washington would be unanimously elected as the nation’s first president, setting the stage for the American presidency

January 7 National 0

1610

1610

Galileo discovers Jupiter’s moons

Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei observed three of Jupiter’s four largest moons (later called the Galilean moons) through his telescope

January 7 National 0

1610

1610

Galileo discovers Jupiter’s moons

Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei observed three of Jupiter’s four largest moons (later called the Galilean moons) through his telescope

January 7 National 0

1964

1964

War on Poverty announced

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson declared an “unconditional War on Poverty” in his State of the Union address

January 8 National 0

1964

1964

War on Poverty announced

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson declared an “unconditional War on Poverty” in his State of the Union address

January 8 National 0

1935

1935

Elvis Presley born

Elvis Presley, often called the “King of Rock ’n’ Roll,” was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. Rising from humble origins, Presley’s revolutionary musical style and charisma in the 1950s transformed popular culture and ushered in the rock era

January 8 National 0

1935

1935

Elvis Presley born

Elvis Presley, often called the “King of Rock ’n’ Roll,” was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. Rising from humble origins, Presley’s revolutionary musical style and charisma in the 1950s transformed popular culture and ushered in the rock era

January 8 National 0