1803 — Chief Justice John Marshall declares that any act of US Congress that conflicts with the Constitution is void. What would he have to say today?!
1835 — The original Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus is formed in Kirtland, Ohio.
1849 — James Knox Polk becomes the first serving President of the United States to have his photograph taken. Subsequent Presidents have shown an inability to kick the habit.
1859 — Oregon is admitted as the 33rd US state.
1876 — Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray apply (though not jointly) for a patent for the telephone.
1899 — Voting machines are approved by the US Congress for use in federal elections. “It will eliminate fraud, confusion, and disenfranchisement.”
1912 — Arizona is admitted as the 48th US state.
1945 — On the second day of the bombing, the British Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces begin fire-bombing Dresden, Germany. So that’s how The Greatest Generation fought?! Imagine the uproar if that had been done in Iraq and Afghanistan!
1949 — Israel’s Parliament (the Knesset) convenes for the first time. Praise God!
1977 — Mark Roth gives Ruby Yoder a Valentine card for the first time. I think that’s right!
1989 — The first of 24 satellites of the Global Positioning System is placed into orbit. GPS is twenty years old today. Wow!
2009 — What’s noteworthy that happened today?