1976 — The first Space Shuttle, Enterprise, is unveiled by NASA.
1920 — The National Football League is organized in Canton, Ohio, United States.
And God bless ’em for it, go Pack.
1862 — American Civil War: the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest day in American history.
1814 — Francis Scott Key finishes his poem The Star-Spangled Banner.
Which is distinctly related to this next one:
1787 — The United States Constitution is signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Happy birthday, Constitution!
One more, appropriately enough:
480 BC — The Battle of Thermopylae, fought between 300 Spartans, led by their king, Leonidas, and the Achaemenid Empire begins.*
Spoon!
*Note: there seems to be some debate as to the exact dates of the Battle of Thermopylae, but I like the connectivity of having it begin on the same day that the Constitution was signed. So I’m sticking with it.