On December 17, 1791, a traffic regulation in New York City established the first street to go "One Way..."

Also on December 17th- 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first successful man-powered airplane flight, near Kitty Hawk, N.C.

December 17, 2008, also marks the first anniversary of the Republic of Lakota's assertion of independence from the United States.

On December 18, 1862, the first orthopedic hospital was organized in New York City. It was called the Hospital for Ruptured and Crippled...

Also on December 18th, 1865- Slavery ended in the United States as the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was declared in effect.

On December 19th, 1843- Charles Dickens' Yuletide tale, "A Christmas Carol," was first published in England.

Also on December 19, 1871, corrugated paper was patented by Albert L. Jones...

On December 20, 1820, the state of Missouri enacted legislation to tax bachelors between the ages of 21-50 for being unmarried. The tax was $1 a year...

Also on December 20th 1803- The Louisiana Purchase was completed as the territory was formally transferred from France to the United States during ceremonies in New Orleans.

On December 21, 1879, Ibsen's "A Doll's House" was first performed in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a revised happy ending...

Also on December 21st, 1620- Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower went ashore for the first time at present-day Plymouth, Mass.

On December 22nd, 1944- During the Battle of the Bulge, Germany demanded the surrender of American troops at Bastogne, Belgium; Brigadier Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe reportedly replied: "Nuts!"

Also on December 22nd, in 1964, comedian Lenny Bruce was convicted of obscenity for using the words cocksucker and come (sexual) in his routine.

Also on December 22, 1775, a Continental naval fleet was organized in the rebellious American colonies under the command of Ezek Hopkins...

On December 23, 1788, Maryland voted to cede a 100-square-mile area for the seat of the national government. About two-thirds of the area became the District of Columbia...

Also on December 23, scientist Wilson Alwyn "Snowflake" Bentley died in 1931. He was known as the "photographer of snowflakes." He perfected a process of capturing snowflakes on black velvet and photographing them using microscopes before they melted or sublimated. A great feat, especially at the turn of the 20th century.

He described snowflakes as "tiny miracles of beauty" and snow crystals as "ice flowers."

See a sample of his work here. (Circa 1902.)

Also on December 23rd, 1823- The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore was first published, in the Troy (N.Y.) Sentinel.

So, it turns out it wasn't the night before Christmas- it was the night before the night before Christmas.

On December. 24th, 1992, President Bush Sr. pardoned former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and five others in the Iran-Contra scandal.

Also, on December 24, 1828, William Burke who, with his partner William Hare, dug up the dead and murdered to sell the corpses for dissection, went on trial in Edinburgh...

On December 25, 0800, Charlemagne was crowned first Holy Roman Emperor in Rome by Pope Leo III...

On December 26th, 1947- Heavy snow blanketed the Northeast, burying New York City under 25.8 inches of snow in 16 hours; the severe weather was blamed for some 80 deaths.

Also on December 26, 1865, The coffee percolator was patented by James H. Mason...

On December 27, 1703, the Methuen Treaty was signed between Portugal and England, giving preference to the import of Portuguese wines into England...

Also on December 27th, 1968- Apollo 8, the first spaceflight to orbit the moon, returned to Earth.

On December 28th, 1958- The Baltimore Colts won the NFL championship, defeating the New York Giants 23-17 in overtime at Yankee Stadium, in what has been dubbed the greatest football game ever played.

Also on December 28, 1732, "The Pennsylvania Gazette," owned by Benjamin Franklin, ran an ad for the first issue of "Poor Richard’s Almanack..."

On December 29th, 1890- U.S. troops killed as many as 400 Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee, S.D.

Also on December 29, 1813, the British burned Buffalo, NY, during the War of 1812...

On December 30th, 1972- The United States halted its heavy bombing of North Vietnam.

Also on December 30, 1880, the Transvaal was declared a republic. Paul Kruger became its first president...

Winston Churchill addresses Canadian parliament Dec. 30 1941

On December 31st, 1974- Private U.S. citizens were allowed to buy and own gold for the first time in more than 40 years.

Also on December 31, 1687, the first Huguenots set sail from France for the Cape of Good Hope, where they would later create the South African wine industry with the vines they took with them on the voyage...

On January 1, 1895, J. Edgar Hoover was born...

On January 2nd, 1965- The New York Jets signed University of Alabama quarterback Joe Namath for a reported $400,000.

Also onJanuary 2, 1904, ecdysiast Sally Rand was born...


Sally Rand - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

On January 3, 1945, Stephen Stills was born...

Also on January 3rd, 1938- The March of Dimes campaign to fight polio was organized.

On January 4th, 1896- Utah was admitted to the Union as the 45th state.

Also on January 4, 1937, Dyan Cannon was born...

Dyan Cannon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia