| On this date in: |
| 1648 |
The Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years’ War and, effectively, the Holy Roman Empire. |
| 1861 |
The first transcontinental telegraph message was sent from California to President Abraham Lincoln. |
| 1931 |
The George Washington Bridge connecting New York and New Jersey was dedicated. |
 |
| AP Photo |
|
| 1940 |
The 40-hour work week went into effect in the United States. |
| 1945 |
The United Nations charter took effect. |
| 1952 |
Republican presidential candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower declared, “I shall go to Korea” as he promised to end the conflict.
 |
Dwight D. Eisenhower |
|
| 1992 |
The Toronto Blue Jays became the first team outside the United States to win a World Series as they defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-3 in Game 6. |
| 2002 |
Authorities arrested Army veteran John Allen Muhammad and teenager Lee Boyd Malvo in connection with the Washington-area sniper attacks. (Malvo was later sentenced to life in prison; Muhammad was sentenced to death and executed.) |
| 2003 |
The era of supersonic jet travel came to an end as three British Airways Concordes landed at London’s Heathrow Airport. |
| 2005 |
Civil rights activist Rosa Parks died at age 92. |
| 2007 |
Facebook Inc. sold a 1.6 percent stake to Microsoft Corp. for $240 million, spurning a competing offer from Google Inc. |
