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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Today In History

In 1821: Spain ceded Florida to the United States.

In 1898: During the Spanish-American War, Spanish troops in Santiago, Cuba, surrendered to U.S. forces. Nine days later, Spain sought peace terms.

In 1938: Aviator Douglas Corrigan took off from New York, saying he was headed for California; he ended up in Ireland, earning the nickname “Wrong Way Corrigan.”

In 1948: Southern Democrats opposed to the nomination of President Truman met in Birmingham, Ala., to endorse South Carolina Gov. Strom Thurmond.

In 1955: Disneyland debuted in Anaheim, Calif.

In 1979: Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza resigned and fled into exile in Miami.

In 1996: TWA Flight 800, a Paris-bound Boeing 747, exploded and crashed off Long Island, N.Y., shortly after leaving John F. Kennedy International Airport, killing all 230 people aboard.