August 30th, 2008

Today in History

1873:
Austrian explorers Julius von Payer and Karl Weyprecht discover the archipelago of Franz Joseph Land in the Arctic Sea.

1991:
Azerbaijan declares independence from the USSR.

1984:
STS-41-D: The Space Shuttle Discovery takes off on its maiden voyage.

1813:
Creek War: Creek Red Sticks carried out the Fort Mims Massacre.

711:
K'inich K'an Joy Chitam, king of the Maya city of Palenque, disappears from history. He was probably taken prisoner by a rivalling city state.