Blast from the Past

This week in 1890, Yosemite National Park was established on October 1st. This marked the first time that the U.S. government protected land for public enjoyment. This historical event laid the foundation for the establishment of the national and state park systems.

In 1995, one of the most notorious murder cases was heavily publicized when the main suspect was acquitted on October 3rd.  O.J. Simpson was proven not guilty for the murder of then ex wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The case did not have enough evidence linking Simpson to the murder. This is one of the most sensational trials to this day, and still remains a mystery.

In 1957, the worlds first artificial satellite, known as Sputnik, was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4th. Traveling at 18,000 miles per hour and weighing 184 pounds, this satellite circled the earth once every 36 minutes. As many expected, just one year after the launch, the spacecraft burned up in the atmosphere.

The first ever nationally publicized presidential speech was presented on October 5th, 1947. President Harry Truman made the first presidential address from the White House, asking Americans to cut back on their use of grain in order to help starving Europeans. Europe, still recovering from World War II at this time, was suffering from famine. Truman was worried that if Americans did not help the Europeans, his administration’s Marshall Plan for European economic recovery would fall apart. The Marshall Plan ended up surprising all by successfully revitalizing Europe. Truman’s speech was the start of a new way that candidates could campaign for Presidency.

In 1866, the first ever robbery on a moving train occurred on October 6th. Four Reno brothers and their associates, known as the Reno gang, stole close to $10,000 in money and precious minerals. This new method of sticking up moving trains in locations with little law enforcement soon because popular in the west. As railroad owners became serious about defense, they started to fight back using large safes to house these valuables and armed guards to protect them. The Reno brothers’ reign came to an end in 1868 when they were captured in Indiana.