Today In History

In 1904: A fire in Baltimore raged for about 30 hours and destroyed more than 1,500 buildings.

In 1944: Bing Crosby and the John Scott Trotter Orchestra recorded “Swinging on a Star” for Decca Records in Los Angeles.

In 1948: Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower resigned as Army chief of staff and was succeeded by Gen. Omar Bradley.

In 1984: Space shuttle astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart went on the first untethered space walk.

In 1964: The Beatles began their first American tour as they arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, where they were greeted by thousands of screaming fans.