This Day In History: 01/11/1908 - Grand Canyon Made Monument - HISTORY

The Grand Canyon is named a national park, the Surgeon General named cigarette smoking as a hazard, Amelia Earhart completed her first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean and more in This Day in History video. The date is January 11. Michael Jackson gets a record number of Grammy nominations.

FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

RELATED CONTENT

Australia Day celebrates the founding of Australia led by Captain Arthur Phillip, the curtain goes up on the Phantom of the Opera and Condoleezza Rice is named the first woman Secretary of State in This Day in History video. The date is January 26th. Also on this day in history India wins independence from British rule.

On this day in 1932, in a crime that captured the attention of the entire nation, Charles Lindbergh III, the 20-month-old son of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh, is kidnapped from the family's new mansion in Hopewell, New Jersey. Lindbergh, who became an international celebrity when he flew the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927, and his wife Anne discovered a ransom note demanding $50,000 in their son's empty room. The kidnapper used a ladder to climb up to the open second-floor window and left muddy footprints in the room. The Lindberghs were inundated by offers of assistance and false clues. For three days, investigators found nothing and there was no further word from the kidnappers. Then, a new letter showed up, this time demanding $70,000. Soon after, the baby's body was discovered near the Lindbergh mansion. He had been killed the night of the kidnapping and was found less than a mile from home. The kidnapping looked like it would go unsolved until September 1934, when a marked bill from the ransom turned up. It was tracked back to a German immigrant and carpenter, Bruno Hauptmann. When his home was searched, detectives found a chunk of Lindbergh ransom money. The resulting trial was a national sensation. Money, handwriting, ladder evidence, and intense public pressure were enough to convict Hauptmann and he was electrocuted in 1935. In the aftermath of the crime--the most notorious of the 1930s--kidnapping was made a federal offense.

The Oxford Dictionary debuts, Chief Justice John Jay is named the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the first nuclear explosion is shown on TV, and the Columbia space shuttle explodes in This Day in History video. The date is February 1st. The crew of Rick Husband, William McCool, Michael Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, and David Brown are lost.

Explore the geological history of the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

On This Day in History, November 1, The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act against the American Colonies in 1765. This unpopular tax would eventually lead to the American Revolution and independence for the colonies. On November 1, 1938, Seabiscuit upset the horse racing champion War Admiral. This was said to be the match of the century in horse racing. On November 1, 1993, the European Union was established. Finally, on November 1, 1512, Michelangelo unveiled his Sistine Chapel to the world for the first time. Michelangelo painted over three hundred figures, while he was laying on his back on sixty foot scaffolding. The paintings and figures were based on the Book of Genesis. Although it may have caused strained eyes and a sore back for Michelangelo, to the rest of the world it was a masterpiece. That is what happened in history on November 1.

In this "This Day in History" video clip learn about different events that have occurred on January 1st. Some of these events include the enactment of the emancipation proclamation and the opening of Ellis Island. Also, David Dinkins becomes the first African-American mayor of New York City and dictator Batista is forced out of Cuba by revolution.