1811 - The first steamboat to sail the Mississippi River arrives in New Orléans, Louisiana.
1890 - Yosemite National Park is established by the United States Congress.
1892 - University of Chicago opens
1908 - Henry Ford introduces the Model T car (costs $825)
1960 - Nigeria gains independence from Britain (National Day)
1960 - Independence from the United Kingdom on August 16, 1960, but Cyprus Independence Day is commonly celebrated on October 1.
1969 - Concorde breaks the sound barrier for the first time.
1978 - Tuvalu (formerly Ellice Islands) declares independence from UK
