February 15 - This 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 : Union General 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