1776

The Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

1855

The first edition of Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” was published.

1910

In what was billed as “The Fight of the Century,” Black world heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson defeated white former champ “Gentleman” Jim Jeffries in Reno, Nevada; race riots across the country following the fight killed more than 20 people.

1939

Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees delivered his famous farewell speech in which he called himself “the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.”

1960

The current 50-star version of the U.S. flag was adopted.