October 18 - The Day in History

October 18 : General Interest 1867: U.S. takes possession of Alaska On this day in 1867, the U.S. formally takes possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia for $7.2 million, or less than two cents an acre... read more American Revolution 1767 : Mason and Dixon draw a line http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mason-and-dixon-draw-a-line Automotive 1933 : R. Buckminster Fuller tries to patent his Dymaxion Car http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/r-buckminster-fuller-tries-to-patent-his-dymaxion-car Civil War 1863 : Controversial Union General Sickles visits his troops http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/general-sickles-visits-his-troops Cold War 1989 : East Germany and Hungary move toward democracy http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/east-germany-and-hungary-move-toward-democracy Crime 1968 : John Lennon and Yoko Ono arrested for drug possession http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-lennon-and-yoko-ono-arrested-for-drug-possession Disaster 1998 : Pipeline explosions kills 700 in Nigeria http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pipeline-explosions-kills-700-in-nigeria General Interest 1469 : Ferdinand and Isabella marry http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ferdinand-and-isabella-marry 1860 : Peking's Summer Palace destroyed http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pekings-summer-palace-destroyed 1898 : U.S. takes control of Puerto Rico http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-takes-control-of-puerto-rico 1931 : Edison dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/edison-dies Hollywood 1988 : Roseanne debuts http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/roseanne-debuts Literary 1951 : Terry McMillan is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/terry-mcmillan-is-born Music 1974 : Soul singer Al Green is attacked in his own bathtub http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soul-singer-al-green-is-attacked-in-his-own-bathtub Old West 1867 : The United States formally takes possession of Alaska from Russia http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-united-states-formally-takes-possession-of-alaska-from-russia Presidential 1962 : JFK records his impressions of secret meetings http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jfk-records-his-impressions-of-secret-meetings Sports 1977 : Mr. October hits three homers in three swings http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mr-october-hits-three-homers-in-three-swings Vietnam War 1955 : Emperor Bao Dai attempts to dismiss Diem http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/emperor-bao-dai-attempts-to-dismiss-diem 1968 : Stock market soars with rumors of bombing halt in Vietnam http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/stock-market-soars-with-rumors-of-bombing-halt-in-vietnam World War I 1915 : Third Battle of the Isonzo http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/third-battle-of-the-isonzo World War II 1942 : Vice Admiral Halsey named new commander of the South Pacific http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/vice-admiral-halsey-named-new-commander-of-the-south-pacific

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