Today in history 97

Here are some notable events that occurred on this day in history, March 17th:

1997

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 8,000 for the first time, reaching 8,038.65.

Other events

• 1320 - The Scots defeat the English at the Battle of Myton.
• 1792 - The first cornerstone is laid for the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
• 1842 - The first public transportation system, the omnibus, begins operation in Paris.
• 1861 - The first generation of the Pony Express begins, with the first horse-mounted messenger leaving St. Joseph, Missouri, to deliver mail to California.
• 1912 - The Titanic's sister ship, the Olympic, collides with a warship in the Solent Strait, but remains afloat.
• 1969 - The first issue of the underground newspaper The Village Voice is published in New York City.
• 1988 - The Soviet Union launches the Phobos 2 spacecraft, which is intended to study Mars and its moon Phobos.

Birthdays

• 1884 - Henri Matisse, French artist (d. 1954)
• 1923 - Charles Mingus, American jazz bassist and composer (d. 1979)
• 1947 - John McVie, British musician (Fleetwood Mac)
• 1954 - Steve Perry, American musician (Journey)
• 1961 - John Stamos, American actor (Full House)

Deaths

• 1912 - John Jacob Astor IV, American businessman and member of the wealthy Astor family (b. 1864)
• 1997 - Jacques Cousteau, French naval officer, explorer, and filmmaker (b. 1910)

I hope you find these events interesting!