1653

New Amsterdam — now New York City — was incorporated.

1887

Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, held its first Groundhog Day festival.

1914

Charles Chaplin made his movie debut in the comedy short “Making a Living.”

1925

The legendary Alaska Serum Run ended as the last of a series of dog mushers brought a lifesaving treatment to Nome, the scene of a diphtheria epidemic.

1943

The remainder of Nazi forces from the Battle of Stalingrad surrendered in a major victory for the Soviets.