5 August 1926

Harry Houdini performs his greatest feat, spending 91 minutes underwater in a sealed tank before escaping. Harry Houdini, born Erik Weisz in 1874 in Budapest,…

5 August 1957

American Bandstand, a show dedicated to the teenage “baby-boomers” by playing the songs and showing popular dances of the time, debuts on the ABC television…

5 August 1962

Nelson Mandela is jailed. He would not be released until 1990. Nelson Mandela was jailed primarily for his involvement in the anti-apartheid struggle in South…

5 August 1620

The Mayflower departs from Southampton, England, carrying would-be settlers, on its first attempt to reach North America; it is forced to dock in Dartmouth when…

5 August 1914

In Cleveland, Ohio, the first electric traffic light is installed on 5 August, 1914. Cleveland, Ohio, became the site of a major transportation milestone: the…

5 August 1781

The Battle of Dogger Bank takes place. [rdp-wiki-embed url=’https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dogger_Bank_(1781)’]

5 August 1973

Mars 6 is launched from the USSR. The Mars 6 spacecraft carried an array of instruments to study Mars. The lander was equipped with a…

5 August 1620

The Mayflower sets sail from Southampton, England on its first attempt to reach North America. The Mayflower was hired in London, and sailed from London…

5 August 1620

The Mayflower departs from Southampton, England on its first try to reach North America.