Today In History

In 1807: Robert Fulton’s North River Steam Boat began heading up New York’s Hudson River on its successful round-trip to Albany.

In 1896: A prospecting party discovered gold in Alaska, a finding that would touch off the Klondike gold rush.

In 1943: The Allied conquest of Sicily was completed as U.S. and British forces entered Messina.

In 1969: Hurricane Camille killed 248 people when it slammed into the Gulf Coast.

In 1978: The first successful trans-Atlantic balloon flight ended as Maxie Anderson, Ben Abruzzo and Larry Newman set down in their Double Eagle II outside Paris.