Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, August 20, 2015)| Word of the Day | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
sectionalism
| |||||||
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 The Great Boston Fire of 1872The Great Boston Fire of 1872 was Boston's largest urban fire and remains one of the most costly fire-related property losses in American history, causing $73.5 million in damages. Numerous factors contributed to the fire, not the least of which was the lax enforcement of Boston's building regulations which, coupled with the practice of over-insuring buildings, left no real incentive to build fire-safe structures. How many years did it take to rebuild the burnt district? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
 The Big Burn (1910)The Great Fire of 1910 was a wildfire that burned approximately three million acres (12,000 sq km) in Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Spurred by hurricane-force winds, it destroyed parts of several national forests. Since known as the Big Burn, the firestorm burned over two days and killed more than 80 people, including 78 firefighters. It is believed to be the largest, although not the deadliest, fire in US history. How did the Great Fire of 1910 shape future US Forest Service policy? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 Benjamin Harrison (1833)The grandson of a US president, Harrison practiced law in Indiana before leading a volunteer regiment in the Civil War. He made two unsuccessful bids for the Indiana governorship before gaining a seat in the US Senate. In the 1888 presidential election, he defeated incumbent US President Grover Cleveland, though Cleveland won the popular vote. His association with unpopular tariffs cost him an 1892 re-election and brought Cleveland back. Why did his children refuse to attend his second wedding? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 Although a skillful flatterer is a most delightful companion if you can keep him all to yourself, his taste becomes very doubtful when he takes to complimenting other people.Charles Dickens (1812-1870) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Hortobágy Bridge Fair and International Equestrian Festival (2020)This annual event is a showcase of Hungary's fine horses and riders on the Hortobágy and a celebration of the famous nine-arched bridge, built in 1833, that crosses the Hortobágy River and is the longest stone bridge in the country. The equestrian fair is held outside the historic city of Debrecen and features the famed Lipizzaner horses in dressage exhibitions, the csikós (Hungarian cowboy) in colorful embroidered riding costume, carriage parades, pulling contests for draft horses, and other equestrian events. There are also crafts fairs and a peasant market. More... | |