January 7th, 2009

Today in History

1990:
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public due to safety concerns.

1927:
The Harlem Globetrotters play their first game.

1926:
George Burns marries Gracie Allen.

1797:
The parliament of the Repubblica Cisalpina adopts the Italian green-white-red tricolour as official flag. It is the birthday of the flag of Italy.

1785:
Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard and American John Jeffries travel from Dover, England to Calais, France in a gas balloon, becoming the first to cross the English Channel by air.