February 15 - The Day in History

February 15 : General Interest 1898 : The Maine explodes A massive explosion of unknown origin sinks the battleship USS Maine in Cuba's Havana harbor, killing 260 of the fewer than 400 American crew members aboard... read more

American Revolution 1776 : Nova Scotia governor sends word of potential American invasion http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nova-scotia-governor-sends-word-of-potential-american-invasion Automotive 1998 : Victory at last for Earnhardt at Daytona http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-at-last-for-earnhardt-at-daytona Civil War 1835 : Alexander Stewart Webb born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/alexander-stewart-webb-born Cold War 1950 : USSR and PRC sign mutual defense treaty http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ussr-and-prc-sign-mutual-defense-treaty Crime 1933 : The death penalty--then and now http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-death-penalty--then-and-now Disaster 1996 : Oil tanker runs aground near Wales http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/oil-tanker-runs-aground-near-wales General Interest 1942 : Japan celebrates major victory in the Pacific http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-celebrates-major-victory-in-the-pacific 1965 : Canada adopts maple leaf flag http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/canada-adopts-maple-leaf-flag Hollywood 1950 : Disney's Cinderella opens http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/disneys-cinderella-opens Literary 1980 : Lillian Hellman sues Mary McCarthy http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lillian-hellman-sues-mary-mccarthy Music 1984 : Broadway legend Ethel Merman dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/broadway-legend-ethel-merman-dies Old West 1812 : Wilson Hunt arrives at Astoria, Oregon http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/wilson-hunt-arrives-at-astoria-oregon Presidential 1903 : First Teddy bear goes on sale http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-teddy-bear-goes-on-sale 1933 : FDR escapes assassination in Miami http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fdr-escapes-assassination-in-miami Sports 1961 : U.S. figure skating team killed in plane crash http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-figure-skating-team-killed-in-plane-crash 1998 : Dale Earnhardt wins first Daytona 500 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dale-earnhardt-wins-first-daytona-500 Vietnam War 1966 : DeGaulle offers to help end Vietnam War http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/degaulle-offers-to-help-end-vietnam-war 1970 : Chicago Eight defense attorneys sentenced http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chicago-eight-defense-attorneys-sentenced World War I 1915 : Mutiny breaks out among Indian soldiers in Singapore http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mutiny-breaks-out-among-indian-soldiers-in-singapore World War II 1942 : Singapore falls to Japan http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/singapore-falls-to-japan

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