TODAY IN HISTORY

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A trusted resource of/for the history of Shelby County that instills pride while educating and inspiring all generations.

The Shelby County Historical Society & Museum is open Monday through Friday from 8 to 4. They’re ready to take you back in time, located on the corner of Morse Avenue and Pine Street in Harlan.  Call 755-2437 for more information

February 24th - 55th Day of the Year

786
Pepin the Short of Gaul dies. His dominions are divided between his sons Charles (Charlemagne) and Carloman.

1525
In the first of the Franco-Habsburg Wars, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V captures the French king Francis I at the Battle of Pavia, Italy.

1538
Ferdinand of Hapsburg and John Zapolyai, the two kings of Hungary, conclude the peace of Grosswardein.

1803
Chief Justice John Marshall, by refusing to rule on the case of Marbury vs. Madison, asserts the authority of the judicial branch.

1813
Off Guiana, the American sloop Hornet sinks the British sloop Peacock.

1821
Mexico gains independence from Spain.

1836
Some 3,000 Mexicans launch an assault on the Alamo with its 182 Texan defenders.

1863
Arizona is organized as a U.S. territory.

1868
President Andrew Johnson becomes the first U.S President to be impeached

1895
The Cuban War of Independence begins.

1908
Japan officially agrees to restrict emigration to the U.S.

1912
- The Jewish organization Hadassah is founded in New York City.
- Italy bombs Beirut in the first act of war against the Ottoman Empire.

1914
Civil War soldier Joshua Chamberlain dies.

1916
A film version of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea opens in New York.

1917
U.S ambassador to the United Kingdom Walter Hines Page is given the Zimmerman Telegram, in which Germany pledges to ensure the return of New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona to Mexico, if Mexico declares war on the United States.

1921
Herbert Hoover becomes Secretary of Commerce.

1928
The New Gallery of New York exhibits works of Archibald Motley, its first show to feature a black artist.

1944
Merrill's Marauders, a specially trained group of American soldiers, begin their ground campaign against Japan into Burma.

1945
U.S. forces liberate prisoners of war in the Los Baños Prison in the Philippines.

1947
Franz von Papen is sentenced to eight years in a labor camp for war crimes.

1959
Khrushchev rejects the Western plan for the Big Four meeting on Germany.

1968
North Vietnamese troops capture the imperial palace in Hue, South Vietnam.

1972
Hanoi negotiators walk out of the peace talks in Paris to protest U.S. air raids on North Vietnam.

1980
The U.S. Olympic Hockey Team wins the gold medal, defeating Finland 4-2 in Lake Placid, NY.

1991
General Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of the coalition army, sends in ground forces during the Gulf War.

1999
China Southwest Airlines Flight 4509 crashes on approach to Wenzhou Longwan International Airport in China, killing all 61 people on board.

2007
Japan launches it's 4th spy satellite, stepping up its ability to monitor potential threats such as North Korea.

2008
​Fidel Castro retires as President of Cuba and the Council of Ministers after 32 years.

The Shelby County Historical Society would like to thank the following area businesses for their support:
​KNOD, Harlan Newspaper, Hy-Vee, Milk & Honey, Farm Table Delivery, Nelson Farm Supply, Shelby County Physical Therapy, Shelby County State Bank, State Farm-EJ Leinen, Town & Country Credit Union, Ouren Real Estate, and ThinkSpace IT.