Today In History

In 1776: The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.

In 1802: The U.S. Military Academy officially opened at West Point, N.Y.

In 1845: American writer Henry David Thoreau began his two-year experiment in simple living at Walden Pond, near Concord, Mass.

In 1939: Baseball’s “Iron Horse,” Lou Gehrig, said farewell to his fans at New York City’s Yankee Stadium.

In 1946: The Philippines became independent of U.S. sovereignty.

In 1976: Israeli commandos raided Entebbe airport in Uganda, rescuing almost all of the passengers and crew of an Air France jetliner seized by pro-Palestinian hijackers.