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1726

J. S. Bach led the first performance of Geist und Seele wird verwirret, a solo cantata for alto voice.

J. S. Bach led the first performance of Geist und Seele wird verwirret, a solo cantata for alto voice.

2003

The first public release of Steam, a distribution service for computer games, was made available for download.

The first public release of Steam, a distribution service for computer games, was made available for download.

2015

Physicists of the LIGO and Virgo projects first observed gravitational waves, the existence of which was predicted by…

Physicists of the LIGO and Virgo projects first observed gravitational waves, the existence of which was predicted by Henri Poincaré in 1905.

1968

The Soviet Union's Zond 5 landed in the Indian Ocean, becoming the first spacecraft to safely return to Earth after…

The Soviet Union's Zond 5 landed in the Indian Ocean, becoming the first spacecraft to safely return to Earth after travelling around the Moon.

1958

The first section of Interstate 80 in Iowa opened in the Des Moines metropolitan area.

The first section of Interstate 80 in Iowa opened in the Des Moines metropolitan area.

1958

The first section of Interstate 80 in Iowa (pictured) opened in the Des Moines metropolitan area.

The first section of Interstate 80 in Iowa (pictured) opened in the Des Moines metropolitan area.

2003

Dolphin, the first emulator for the GameCube that could run commercial video games, was released.

Dolphin, the first emulator for the GameCube that could run commercial video games, was released.

2002

The first version of the web browser Firefox was released by the Mozilla Organization.

The first version of the web browser Firefox was released by the Mozilla Organization.

1952

U.S. vice-presidential candidate Richard Nixon delivered the Checkers speech, one of the first political uses of…

U.S. vice-presidential candidate Richard Nixon delivered the Checkers speech, one of the first political uses of television to appeal directly to the populace.

1975

Dougal Haston and Doug Scott of the Southwest Face expedition became the first people to reach the summit of Mount…

Dougal Haston and Doug Scott of the Southwest Face expedition became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest by ascending one of its faces.

1890

Wilford Woodruff, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wrote the first draft of a…

Wilford Woodruff, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wrote the first draft of a manifesto that officially disavowed the future practice of plural marriage.

1981

Sandra Day O'Connor (pictured) became the first female justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Sandra Day O'Connor (pictured) became the first female justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

1977

About 4,200 people took part in the first modern Chicago Marathon.

About 4,200 people took part in the first modern Chicago Marathon.

1983

American software developer Richard Stallman announced plans for the Unix-like operating system GNU, the first free…

American software developer Richard Stallman announced plans for the Unix-like operating system GNU, the first free software developed by the GNU Project.

1908

The first production Ford Model T, the car credited with initiating the mass use of automobiles in the United States,…

The first production Ford Model T, the car credited with initiating the mass use of automobiles in the United States, was completed at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit, Michigan.

1825

Locomotion No. 1 hauled the train on the opening day of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the first public railway…

Locomotion No. 1 hauled the train on the opening day of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the first public railway in the world to use steam locomotives.

1924

A team of U.S. Army Air Service aviators landed in Seattle, Washington, to complete the first aerial circumnavigation…

A team of U.S. Army Air Service aviators landed in Seattle, Washington, to complete the first aerial circumnavigation of the world.

235

Pope Pontian (pictured) resigned after being exiled to Sardinia, becoming the first pope to relinquish the position.

Pope Pontian (pictured) resigned after being exiled to Sardinia, becoming the first pope to relinquish the position.

2005

John Roberts became the 17th Chief Justice of the United States; he would be the first Chief Justice to serve for…

John Roberts became the 17th Chief Justice of the United States; he would be the first Chief Justice to serve for twenty years since Melville Fuller in 1908.

1990

The Lockheed YF-22, the prototype for the F-22 Raptor, made its first flight.

The Lockheed YF-22, the prototype for the F-22 Raptor, made its first flight.