1953 Discovery of DNA

James Dewey Watson (born April 6, 1928), is an American molecular biologist, geneticist and zoologist, best known as a co-discoverer of the structure of DNA with Francis Crick. Watson has written many science books, his bestselling book The Double Helix (1968) about the DNA structure discovery.

1941 Pearl Harbor

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941. The attack led to the United States' entry into World War II.

1937 The Golden Gate Bridge

It is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco, California, and the United States. It has been declared one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. It had until 1964 the longest suspension bridge main span in the world, at 4,200 feet (1,280 m).

1935 The FBI was established

The bureau was established in 1908 as the Bureau of Investigation (BOI). Its name was changed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 1935. The FBI headquarters is 
the J. Edgar Hoover Building, located in Washington, D.C. 

1932 Franklin Delano Roosevelt

32nd President of the United States (1933–1945), served for 12 years and four terms until his death in 1945, the only president ever to do so, and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic depression and total war.

1931 Empire State Building

Is a 103-story skyscraper located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It stood as the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years, with its antenna spire included a total of 1,454 ft (443.2 m) high.

1927 Charles Lindbergh flight

Lindbergh was the first person in history to be in New York one day and Paris the next (he made solo non-stop flight). Lindbergh, a U.S. Army Air Corps Reserve officer, was also awarded the nation's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his historic exploit.

1926 NBC

The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network. It is headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center. NBC is sometimes referred to as the "Peacock Network", due to its stylized peacock logo, which was originally created for its color broadcasts.

1914 Mother's Day

Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Previous attempts at establishing Mother's Day sought to promote peace by means of honoring mothers who had lost or were at risk of losing their sons to war. Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis and her daughter, Anna Marie Jarvis are recognized as the founders.

1912 RMS Titanic

Was a British passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after colliding with an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, UK to New York City. The sinking of Titanic caused the deaths of more than 1,500 people of the 2,224 passengers aboard.

1906 San Francisco earthquake

As a result of the quake and fires, about 3,000 people died and over 80% of San Francisco was destroyed. The earthquake and resulting fire are remembered as one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the US alongside the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

1903 Ford Motor Company

Founded by Henry Ford, is an American multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The company sells automobiles and commercial vehicles under the Ford brand and most luxury cars under the Lincoln brand.

1901 Theodore Roosevelt

Roosevelt was 42 years old when sworn in as President, after the assassination of President McKinley, making him the youngest president ever. Roosevelt was also the first of only three sitting presidents to have won the Nobel Peace Prize. The Teddy bear is named for him, despite his contempt for being called "Teddy".

1892 The Sierra Club

Was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the Scottish conservationist and preservationist John Muir. The Sierra Club is one of the oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organizations in the United States. 

1888 The National Geographic Society

Is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interest include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture and history.

1882 Jesse Woodson James

Jesse Woodson James (1847 - 1882) was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. He became a legendary figure of the Wild West after his death.

1881 The American Red Cross

One of the greatest accomplishments of Clarissa Harlowe "Clara" Barton was founding the American Red Cross. This organization helps victims of war and disasters.

1879 Thomas Alva Edison

Was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Edison is the fourth most prolific inventor in history, holding 1,093 US patents in his name.

1876 Wild Bill Hickok

James Butler Hickok was shot from behind and killed while playing poker in a saloon in Deadwood by an unsuccessful gambler. The card hand he held at the time of his death has come to be known today as poker's "Dead Man's Hand".

1876 National League

Is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball and the world's oldest current professional team sports league.

1872 Yellowstone National Park

Is a national park located primarily in Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone, widely held to be the first national park in the world, is known for its wildlife and many geothermal features, especially Old Faithful Geyser.

1871 Great Chicago Fire

Though the fire was one of the largest U.S. disasters of the 19th century, Chicago was rebuilt and continued to grow as one of the most populous and economically important American cities.