May 10 - This Day in History

May 10 : General Interest
1869: Transcontinental railroad completed

On this day in 1869, the presidents of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads meet in Promontory, Utah, and drive a ceremonial last spike into a rail line that connects their railroads... read more


American Revolution
1775 : Second Continental Congress assembles as Ticonderoga falls
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/second-continental-congress-assembles-as-ticonderoga-falls

Automotive
1980 : Government gives Chrysler $1.5 billion loan
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/government-gives-chrysler-15-billion-loan

Civil War
1863 : Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thomas-j-stonewall-jackson-dies

Cold War
1990 : China releases Tiananmen Square prisoners
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/china-releases-tiananmen-square-prisoners

Crime
1924 : J. Edgar Hoover begins his legacy with the FBI
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/j-edgar-hoover-begins-his-legacy-with-the-fbi

Disaster
1996 : Death on Mount Everest
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/death-on-mount-everest

General Interest
1865 : Jefferson Davis captured
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jefferson-davis-captured
1940 : Churchill becomes prime minister
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/churchill-becomes-prime-minister
1994 : Nelson Mandela inaugurated
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nelson-mandela-inaugurated

Hollywood
1977 : Joan Crawford dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/joan-crawford-dies

Literary
1749 : The final volume of Tom Jones is published
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-final-volume-of-tom-jones-is-published

Music
1909 : "Mother" Maybelle Carter is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/quotmotherquot-maybelle-carter-is-born

Old West
1869 : First transcontinental railroad is completed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-transcontinental-railroad-is-completed

Presidential
1877 : Hayes has first phone installed in White House
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hayes-has-first-phone-installed-in-white-house

Sports
1970 : Bobby Orr leads Bruins to Stanley Cup title
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bobby-orr-leads-bruins-to-stanley-cup-title

Vietnam War
1969 : Operation Apache Snow is launched
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-apache-snow-is-launched
1972 : Intense air war continues over North Vietnam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/intense-air-war-continues-over-north-vietnam

World War I
1871 : Treaty of Frankfurt am Main ends Franco-Prussian War
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/treaty-of-frankfurt-am-main-ends-franco-prussian-war

World War II
1940 : As Germany invades Holland and Belgium, Winston Churchill becomes prime minister of Great Britain
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/as-germany-invades-holland-and-belgium-winston-churchill-becomes-prime-minister-of-great-britain