46 people died as cars and trucks plunged 100 feet into the near-freezing water of the Ohio River.
Catastrophic Fail
It was on this day in Los Angeles that the Baldwin Hills Reservoir crumbled apart and released 250,000,000 gallons of water into the surrounding neighborhoods.
Bye Bye Baiji
The Chinese River Dolphin or Baiji was declared functionally extinct on this day.
John Kendrick's Final Salute
John Kendrick was a Cape Cod sea captain who lived an adventure-filled life commanding whaling ships in peacetime and war ships during the American Revolution.
Bad Night at the Hacienda Motel
It was on this evening that Sam Cooke, the King of Soul, was shot dead in a seedy Los Angeles motel.
The Man Who Saved a Billion Lives
His ground-breaking development of a disease-resistant wheat strain helped save a billion people from starving.
Father of the Barcode
Lines drawn in the sand inspired a system that powers worldwide commerce.
Death at the Washington Monument
An anti-Nukes activist seized the landmark in hopes of drawing attention to his cause.
Absolutely Fireproof
The Winecoff Hotel was supposed to be safe, but it turned out to be the deadliest hotel in U.S. history.
The Blue Marble
The photograph is one of only a few that shows the planet fully illuminated.
First Recording
Edison stepped up to the machine and blurted out the first thing that popped into his head.
The Lost Patrol
The mysterious case has become one of the most celebrated legends of the Bermuda Triangle.
Smoke on the Water
This was the night that the historic Montreux Casino on the shore of Lake Geneva, Switzerland burned to the ground.
Times Beach
The federal government would spend $32 million to relocate the citizens, plus another $110 million on the subsequent cleanup.
The End of Escobar
Despite his attempt to portray himself as a Robin Hood character, Pablo Escobar's ruthlessness and greed eventually caught up with him.
Christine Jorgensen
People had been having sex change operations since at least the 1920s, but what made Jorgensen's case stand out was the use of hormone therapy in combination with the surgical procedures.
Hit by a Meteorite
Ann Elizabeth Hodges was taking a nap on this day when she was rudely awakened by a meteorite crashing through her roof.
Seal Befriends Lady on a Beach
A tourist gets up close and personal with an elephant seal.
The Legend of Kate Morgan's Ghost
For over 100 years, guests at San Diego's Hotel del Coronado have reported spooky encounters with the ghost of Kate Morgan.
Old Billy
The world's oldest horse died on this day.