On this day in history.

[scifan57]

On January 1, the events below took place (Source) - Dave

Batista forced out by Castro-led revolution in 1959!
On this day in 1959, facing a popular revolution spearheaded by Fidel Castro’s 26th of July Movement, Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista flees the island nation. Amid celebration and chaos in the Cuban capitol of Havana, the U.S. debated how best to deal with the radical Castro and the ominous rumblings of anti-Americanism in Cuba.

The Emancipation Proclamation takes effect in 1863!
On this day in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signs the final Emancipation Proclamation, which ends slavery in the rebelling states. A preliminary proclamation was issued in September 1862, following the Union victory at the Battle of Antietam in Maryland. The act signaled an important shift in the Union’s Civil War aims,expanding the goal of the war from reunification to include the eradication of slavery.

Unfortunately it then took more than another hundred years before African Americans had equal protection under the law.

 

[giradman]

Unfortunately it then took more than another hundred years before African Americans had equal protection under the law.

Well, the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s-60s does date that to a century, but problems still exist even after another 50+ years - each year for the holidays I send my two brothers a little money w/ a home-made Christmas card (use iStudio Publisher on my MBPro) - typically add some risqué cartoons and a few old family pics - one cartoon which I did not use but pertinent to the discussion above is shown below - gave me a chuckle - Dave
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[scifan57]

Well, the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s-60s does date that to a century, but problems still exist even after another 50+ years - each year for the holidays I send my two brothers a little money w/ a home-made Christmas card (use iStudio Publisher on my MBPro) - typically add some risqué cartoons and a few old family pics - one cartoon which I did not use but pertinent to the discussion above is shown below - gave me a chuckle - Dave
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I agree that while they now have equal protection under the law they're still not treated equally.

 

[scifan57]

January 1, 45 B.C.;

New Year's Day is celebrated on January 1st for the first time in history as the Julian calendar comes into effect. New Year’s Day - Jan 01, 45 B.C. - HISTORY.com

 

[J. A.]

January 5, 1933:
Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge started
Golden Gate Bridge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[giradman]

January 5, 1933:
Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge started
Golden Gate Bridge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Just a couple of photos below (arrow far left on the first one showing Alcatraz Island) - love when the bridge is shrouded in fog - have not visited San Francisco in a while, but have driven on that bridge many times and have taken at least three boat rides underneath - have never walked across, though. Dave
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[scifan57]

Just a couple of photos below (arrow far left on the first one showing Alcatraz Island) - love when the bridge is shrouded in fog - have not visited San Francisco in a while, but have driven on that bridge many times and have taken at least three boat rides underneath - have never walked across, though. Dave
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I've walked accross the bridge twice and sailed under it in a Canadian Navy destroyer.

 

[giradman]

Samuel Morse demonstrates his telegraph on this day in 1838!

The telegraph was a revolutionary invention for its time along w/ the emergence of railroads - a couple of pics below, first of Morse showing his telegraph - second, a famous painting by Morse who was also an excellent artist - Dave

On this day in 1838, Samuel Morse’s telegraph system is demonstrated for the first time at the Speedwell Iron Works in Morristown, New Jersey. The telegraph, a device which used electric impulses to transmit encoded messages over a wire, would eventually revolutionize long-distance communication, reaching the height of its popularity in the 1920s and 1930s.

Samuel Finley Breese Morse was born April 27, 1791, in Charlestown, Massachusetts. He attended Yale University, where he was interested in art, as well as electricity, still in its infancy at the time. After college, Morse became a painter. In 1832, while sailing home from Europe, he heard about the newly discovered electromagnet and came up with an idea for an electric telegraph. He had no idea that other inventors were already at work on the concept (Source).

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[giradman]

I've walked accross the bridge twice and sailed under it in a Canadian Navy destroyer.

Congrats! Actually, I've walked portions of both ends but never the entire bridge - Dave

 

[scifan57]

Samuel Morse demonstrates his telegraph on this day in 1838!

The telegraph was a revolutionary invention for its time along w/ the emergence of railroads - a couple of pics below, first of Morse showing his telegraph - second, a famous painting by Morse who was also an excellent artist - Dave


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It'd be interesting to know how many of the paintings depicted in Morse's painting are still in the Louvre collection.

 

[giradman]

It'd be interesting to know how many of the paintings depicted in Morse's painting are still in the Louvre collection.

BOY, I have no idea, but suspect most are still there - last time I was @ the Louvre was probably two dozen years ago and did not take an inventory - But googling a little uncovered this interesting Website dedicated to the painting. Dave

 

[giradman]

Theodore Roosevelt makes Grand Canyon a national monument on this day in 1908!

A magnificent experience - we've been to the Canyon just twice and was mainly on the south rim - have not taken a trip to the Colorado River @ the bottom - quotes below (first on the dimensions & second a beginning history w/ the source linked, for those interested).

If going for more that a day, a stay at the El Tovar Lodge or at least a lunch or dinner there is recommended (pic below). We did do an exciting helicopter ride over the canyon - the transition from the high mesa over the canyon's rim was breathtaking.

Finally, there is now the famous Grand Canyon Skywalk which opened in early 2007 and post-dates our last visit - I'm detecting several reasons here for us to possibly return to the area (also near Sedona - NOT to be missed!). Dave

The Grand Canyon is indeed a very big hole in the ground. It is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and more than a mile (6,000 feet / 1,800 meters) deep. It is the result of constant erosion by the Colorado River over millions of years.

On January 11, 1908, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt declares the massive Grand Canyon in northwestern Arizona a national monument.

Though Native Americans lived in the area as early as the 13th century, the first European sighting of the canyon wasn’t until 1540, by members of an expedition headed by the Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. Because of its remote and inaccessible location, several centuries passed before North American settlers really explored the canyon. In 1869, geologist John Wesley Powell led a group of 10 men in the first difficult journey down the rapids of the Colorado River and along the length of the 277-mile gorge in four rowboats (Source).

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[scifan57]

Theodore Roosevelt makes Grand Canyon a national monument on this day in 1908!

A magnificent experience - we've been to the Canyon just twice and was mainly on the south rim - have not taken a trip to the Colorado River @ the bottom - quotes below (first on the dimensions & second a beginning history w/ the source linked, for those interested).

If going for more that a day, a stay at the El Tovar Lodge or at least a lunch or dinner there is recommended (pic below). We did do an exciting helicopter ride over the canyon - the transition from the high mesa over the canyon's rim was breathtaking.

Finally, there is now the famous Grand Canyon Skywalk which opened in early 2007 and post-dates our last visit - I'm detecting several reasons here for us to possibly return to the area (also near Sedona - NOT to be missed!). Dave




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If they still offer it, I'd like to try the burro ride to the bottom of the canyon.

 

[J. A.]

If they still offer it, I'd like to try the burro ride to the bottom of the canyon.

Looks like they still do. There are a few sites, like this one:
Grand Canyon Mule Ride | Grand Canyon Horseback Riding

 

[scifan57]

Looks like they still do. There are a few sites, like this one:
Grand Canyon Mule Ride | Grand Canyon Horseback Riding

Thanks for the research.