Thursday, December 31, 2009

1909 Events: Then and Now-- Part 2

6. HEAVIER THAN AIR FLIGHT-- July 25, 1909, first flight across the English Channel. To commemorate it, a guy crossed the Channel with a jet pack on July 25, 2009.

7. INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY OPENS-- August 14, 1909-- and still going strong. I took a trip around the track in a bus this past spring. I'm not a race fan, but would recommend the trip and museum.

8. FIRST PARIS AIR SHOW-- September 25, 1909--still going on and one of the most prestigious in the world.

9. CHERRY MINE DISASTER-- November 13, 1909-- in Illinois. One of the worst-ever mine calamities where 259 men died. This past November 14th, a marker was dedicated at the site. Until this year, I knew nothing about it. Since then, I've come across four articles about it.

10. TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD-- November 1909, the Metropolitan Life Building in New York City opened at 50 stories and 700 feet. Called the Met Life Tower, it remained the tallest building in the world until the Woolworth Building opened in 1913.

On October 1, 2009, it was reported that the exterior of the Burj Dubai at 2,684 feet and 160 floors.

Interesting Facts Over a Hundred Years. --DaCoot

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