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1776 - The Continental Congress formed a committee assigned to draft a declaration of independence. The committee was composed of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman. The committee members in turn assigned Jefferson to write a draft, which he did in 17 days.

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/jefferson.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The foundation document of this country was written in 17 days by one man with a quill pen.

1919 - The horse Sir Barton won the first Triple Crown.

1963 - Gov. George Wallace symbolically blocked the admission of the first two Negro students to the University of Alabama.

Wallace, whatever you may think of him, was a consummate politician. He got national TV coverage, then stepped aside without a fuss.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=1294680" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

1977 - Seattle Slew won the Triple Crown.

Affirmed won the next year. No other horse has accomplished the deed for 31 years now.

- Jim

1911 - The Hotel Galvez opened in Galveston.

The hotel was a rare joint venture of the leading wealthy families of the city, costing the astounding sum of a million dollars (at a time when workers typically earned $12 a week).

The hotel has remained in business through all the hurricanes, Prohibition, the Depression, etc., except for a two-year period during WW II when the military commandeered it. It has been restored in recent years and is quite deluxe (I have never personally stayed there).

The current management is having a lot of free activities today to celebrate the 100th anniversary.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Galvez" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/GLSHG/main.wnt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



- Jim

I worked in Galveston in the early 80's. I stayed at the Galvez on several occasions. At the time, I remember it as a "classic" hotel. That is, the rooms were small and the patrons spent most of their time in the restaurant, bar, or lobby. The folks were very hospitable and everyone was happy to share the history of the hotel and Galveston Island. I stayed there because the chain hotels seem bland and full of robotic people.

I'm sure the place is still a great hotel.
Happy Trails! N

I never saw Galveston before 1995. At that time, the Galvez was a little run-down—though by no means a dive.

George Mitchell bought it that year and poured a lot of money into it.

I imagine the rooms are on the small side by modern standards, but what's the point of a 500-square-foot bathroom anyway? People come here for the beach, not to sit around a hotel room.

- Jim