HISTORY Honors 250

In 1959, AI and machine learning pioneer Arthur Samuel devised the Samuel Checkers-playing Program. This was one of the first instances of successful self-learning programs in the world, and a clear insight into the power and future of AI.

Jackie Chan revolutionized action films with his unique blend of martial arts, daring stunts and humor, but his impact extends beyond the screen as a philanthropist dedicated to helping make the world a better place.

The ice cream cone is one of America's favorite summertime treats, but it was actually a happy accident that gave us this beloved dessert.

Growing up in the Bronx, Sonia Sotomayor was a Yankees fan. Little did she know that she would play a role in saving the entire sport.

Environmental issues have long faced our planet, but what did it finally take to set aside a day just for Earth?

In the 1960s, Danny Thomas was a household name. His family sitcom, The Danny Thomas Show, was a smash hit, running for over 10 years. Thomas—who struggled for years before his big break—always attributed his success to St. Jude.

Without their sister, Katharine, the Wright brothers may never have taken flight.

Thomas Edison, America’s greatest inventor, was also deaf—a trait that sharpened his focus and fueled his groundbreaking innovations.

The end of World War II was one of the most celebrated moments in 20th-century history—and is marked by multiple historic days.

Trick or treating is now innocent Halloween fun, but before kids went door to door, the holiday was all about mischief and mayhem.

Undeterred by his childhood disability, Henry Viscardi became one of the most effective advocates for disabled Americans in U.S. history.

Mary Ross, one of the first Native American women engineers, helped shape top-secret Cold War projects that changed history.

After Spain’s conquest, the Church tied Aztec death rituals to All Saints Day—until Chicanos reclaimed Día de los Muertos’ roots.

Out of the ashes of the Great Chicago Fire came a new and better way to build.

On Oct 14, 1964, Robert F. Kennedy gave a landmark speech to police chiefs, taking a strong stand against organized crime.

Years before Brown v. Board of Ed, the Mendezes fought their own battle against legalized school segregation.

Marcelino Serna came to the U.S. as a undocumented immigrant, and within just a few years, became one of the country's bravest heroes.

Two years before the Triangle Fire, Clara Lemlich urged thousands at Cooper Union to strike for safer garment factory conditions.

Born to formerly enslaved parents, Lewis Latimer drew Bell’s telephone plans and later advised Edison on inventing the light bulb.

On 9/11, NYC ferry Captain Richard Thornton joined others in rescuing 500,000+ people by boat from Manhattan to safety.

The iconic music festival on August 15th, 1969, brought huge crowds and groundbreaking performances. But it almost never happened.

Sometimes, it really does come down to one vote (and the voter's mother) to change history.

On August 11, 1973, DJ Kool Herc rocks his first Bronx party, debuting a game-changing turntable move that electrifies the crowd.

The high five is synonymous with American culture. But who actually did it first? There are lots of theories, but one of the earliest known instances was a spontaneous action done between two LA Dodger baseball players.

The invention of the safety bike gave women a newfound freedom of movement.

In 1894, two brothers opened NYC’s “Kinetoscope Parlor,” sparking the rise of movie theaters across America and the world.

The invention of charcoal briquets came about thanks to a camping trip by Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.

Before beer and barbecues, the first tailgate happened in 1861—on a Virginia battlefield during the First Battle of Bull Run.

Ellis Island is known in history as a place that welcomed America's immigrants, but for a time, it also pushed them away.

In 1784, Virginia native James Hemings traveled to Paris with Thomas Jefferson, becoming the first American trained in French cuisine.

As America’s first federal public works project, the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse guided ships through one of Virginia’s key trade gateways.

Born from supermarkets' need to speed up checkout, the bar code revolutionized market research and boosted production efficiency.

Paul Boyton founded Sea Lion Park at Coney Island, which created the business model of the first Coney Island Amusement Park.

Though recently made a federal holiday, Juneteenth celebrations are steeped in traditions, one being the consumption of red food and beverages. Red delicacies are eaten on Juneteenth to symbolize sacrifice, transition and power.

Before the cowboy image Americans know today, former enslaved men became the country's first cowboys who used their skills in ranching to cement their place in the west.

Frank DeVita was in charge of lowering the ramp on the USS Samuel Chase on D-Day. The role would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Bayard Rustin was one of Martin Luther King's key advisors who planned the March on Washington in 1963. Yet as a gay man, he forced to work in the shadows.

Don't Ask Don't Tell. This controversial policy was repealed to allow LGBTQ people to openly serve in the US military. But well before this historic moment, one soldier fought for his right to serve.

In America's forgotten war, one hero with heritage on the other side of the battlefield put himself in harm's way to save his fellow soldiers.

Agustín Ramos Calero is the most decorated Puerto Rican and Hispanic Veteran of World War II. Over the course of his 21 years of service, he earned the nickname "One Man Army."

A graduate of Yale University, Clifford Beers founded the Clifford Beers Clinic in 1913, America's first outpatient mental health clinic. His work would establish a foundation for caring for people suffering with mental illness in America.

Memorial Day's origins start in the years following the Civil War, founded by an army, but maybe not the one you'd expect.

Before becoming the 50th state, Hawaii endured a controversial and long fought battle for statehood.

In 2015, a pediatrician discovers that Flint Michigan's water supply changed sources and ran the risk of being tainted by lead. Against public criticism, she fought to expose the problem to the wider public.

When John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt spent three nights in Yosemite, it would soon pave the way for a National Park Service.

The Easter Egg Roll is an annual White House tradition dating back over a century, but how did presidents start hosting this egg racing ritual?

Stranded in space, the Apollo 13 astronauts managed to find their way back home by using technology invented centuries earlier.

O'Neil was a professional race car driver and stuntwoman, who also happened to be deaf. She made history with her death-defying speeds.