This day in history - May 30
Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 9:12 pm
1431 - St. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen, France, after being convicted of a trumped-up charge of heresy.
A fascinating, complicated, and mysterious figure from a time when history is murky.
1539 - Hernando De Soto landed in Florida.*
His expedition explored (or wandered around, depending upon your point of view) southeastern North America, reaching Texas four years later. De Soto died of disease in 1542, in what is now Arkansas.
1868 - The first Memorial Day was commemorated, known at the time as Decoration Day.
1896 - The first recorded automobile collision occurred in New York City.
1911 - The first Indianapolis 500 was run.
1922 - The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated.
1989 - Demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in Beijing erected a statue that looked remarkably like the Statue of Liberty. Subsequent events were ugly, but we seem to have forgotten them.
*Dates from this period are disputable, but what difference does it make?
- Jim
A fascinating, complicated, and mysterious figure from a time when history is murky.
1539 - Hernando De Soto landed in Florida.*
His expedition explored (or wandered around, depending upon your point of view) southeastern North America, reaching Texas four years later. De Soto died of disease in 1542, in what is now Arkansas.
1868 - The first Memorial Day was commemorated, known at the time as Decoration Day.
1896 - The first recorded automobile collision occurred in New York City.
1911 - The first Indianapolis 500 was run.
1922 - The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated.
1989 - Demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in Beijing erected a statue that looked remarkably like the Statue of Liberty. Subsequent events were ugly, but we seem to have forgotten them.
*Dates from this period are disputable, but what difference does it make?
- Jim