Michelangelo’s David statue was unveiled in Florence, Italy –
The first permanent settlement in what is now the United States was established at St. Augustine, Florida, by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles –
Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded what became St. Augustine, Florida –
The steamer Lady Elgin collided with the schooner Augusta on Lake Michigan –
The eastern and western lines of the Northern Pacific Railway were joined in Gold Creek, Montana –
Francis Bellamy’s Pledge of Allegiance first published, in The Youth’s Companion –
Margaret Gorman of Washington, D.C., became the first Miss America –
Cruise ship S.S. Morro Castle burned near Asbury Park, New Jersey –
Percy Saltzman became the first meteorologist to appear on Canadian television. Known for his entertaining presentations, Percy wrote vigorously on a chalkboard map while reporting on air and ended each broadcast by tossing and catching his chalk. –
Original Star Trek series debuted on television –
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts made its public debut, Washington, D.C. –
Stunt motorcyclist Evel Knievel made a failed attempt to jump the Snake River canyon in Idaho. He was propelled by a red, white and blue rocket-powered motorcycle, designed by rocket scientist Robert Truax. –
The Genesis return capsule, which had collected solar wind atoms in fragile disks, crashed in the desert after its parachutes failed to deploy –
A rare black rhino was born in Pittsburgh Zoo, Pennsylvania –
Weather
The deadliest hurricane in U.S. history, with a 15-foot storm surge, inundated the city of Galveston, Texas, killing an estimated 8,000 people –
A hurricane hit Key West and later struck Texas: 284 dead and $20 million in damages –
Roanoke, Virginia, reported a low temperature of 42 degrees F –
