It was on this date in 1831 that the first successful steam railroad locomotive in America started service - it was the John Bull. And it was on this date in 1965 that the television show Lost in Space premiered on CBS.

It was on this date in 1901 that Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as President. This followed the assassination of President William McKinley six days earlier at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY.

It was on this date in 1945 that Vidkun Quisling, the Prime Minister of Norway, was sentenced to death for collaborating with the Nazis during the Second World War. And it was on this date in 1984 that Alex Trebek hosted his first episode of Jeopardy.

It was on this date in 1753 that the first steam engine arrived in the American colonies. Made by British engineer Jonathan Hornblower, the engine was used in a copper mine in Passaic, New Jersey. And it was on this date in 1776 that the Continental Congress formally declared that the new nation would be called The United States.

It was on this date in 1930 that the comic strip Blondie debuted in newspapers across America. Although not initially popular, fans eventually warmed to the comic strip featuring a middle-class family. And it was on this date in 1965 that an ad in New York's Daily Variety appeared with the words "Madness! Auditions for acting roles in new TV series." The next day, 437 men showed up for a part in a series that was supposed to be a take on The Beatles' A Hard Days Night. Four men were selected and would later become The Monkees.

It was on this day in 1630 that the city of Boston, Massachusetts was founded. And it was on this date in 1979, that the ESPN network made its television debut. More than 30,000 viewers watched the show opening.

It was on this date in 1916 that Clarence Saunders revolutionized grocery shopping when he opened up his first Piggly Wiggly supermarket in Memphis, Tennessee. It ushered in an era of self-service shopping that was very different from grocery shopping that preceded it. And it was on this date in 1995 that Baltimore Orioles player, Kal Ripken Jr. played his 2,131st consecutive game. It was a streak previously held by Lou Gehrig.

It was on this date in 1930 that the fifth deadliest Atlantic hurricane occurred in the Dominican Republic. It was a category four hurricane when it hit the capital city of Santa Domingo. The Red Cross estimated that 2,000 people died. And it was on this date in 1967 in Sweden when traffic was switched from driving on the left side of the road to the right.

It was on this date in 1666 that the Great Fire of London started. The fire destroyed 80% of what existed of the city. And it was on this day in 1902 that a French film made history. It was the first-ever sci-fi film known as A Trip to the Moon.

It was on this date in 1752 that the Liberty Bell arrived in Philadelphia. It was originally known as the Statehouse Bell and was placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall). And it was on this date in 1858 that the first telegraph cable from the old world to the new world failed - merely three weeks after its installation.

It was on this date in 1939 that a small group of German soldiers took over a German radio station on the Polish border and broadcast a short anti-fascist broadcast. Germany used this covert action as a context to invade Poland the next day.

It was on this date in 1901 that Hubert Cecil Booth patented a motorized vacuum cleaner, the first of its kind. And it was on this date in 1993 that the 150 millionth visitor visited the Eiffel tower. It was a feat that almost didn't happen as the tower was slated to be destroyed upon the conclusion of Paris' world's fair.