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Spindletop Oilfield Discovery
The oil discovery at Spindletop, located in Texas led the United States into the oil age as it helped revolutionize American transportation and industries as it caused fuel to be cheaper. -
Wright Brothers
Two American aviation pioneers credited with inventing, building, and flying the world's first successful motor-operated airplane. -
WWI Begins
World War I begins after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria. U.S enters WWI years later after declaring war on Germany April 6, 1917. The war ends Nov. 11, 1918. -
Great Depression
Considered the worst economic downturn in history that lasted until the late 1930's. It began after the stock market crash of October 1929, which sent Wall Street into a panic and wiped out millions of investors. -
WWII Begins
War began two days after Hitler invaded Poland and lasted until September 2, 1945 when Japan surrendered. The United States joined after declaring war against Japan after they had bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 8, 1941. -
The Holocaust
The genocide of European Jews during WWII. Between 1941-1945, Nazi Germany systematically murdered more than 6 million Jews across German-occupied Europe. -
Korean War
Fought between North and South Korea, the war started when North Korea invaded South Korea following clashes along the border. The United States joined on the June 27, 1950 to support South Korea. The war ended Jul 25, 1953. -
Manned Spacecraft Center Opens in Houston, TX
NASA opens the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston as part of the Space Race. The center moves to a new campus-like building complex in 1964. It is renamed Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center on Aug. 17, 1973. It is the home to the nation's astronaut corps & training, the International Space Station Mission operations, the Orion Program, etc. This center led the Gemini, Apollo, Apollo-Soyuz and Skylab Projects. -
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Served as the 35th President of the United States from 1961 until his assassination in Dallas, Texas by Lee Harvey Oswald. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Signed by President Johnson, the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public accommodations and federally funded programs and also strengthened the enforcement of voting rights/desegregation of schools. -
Persian Gulf War
A broad military coalition, led by the United States under U.N mandate, removed Iraqi forces from Kuwait and restored Kuwaiti sovereignty. Lasted until Feb. 28, 1991