December 5th, 2008

Today in History

1952:
The Abbott and Costello Show starring comedians Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, debuts.

1932:
German physicist Albert Einstein granted a visa

1848:
California gold rush: In a message before the U.S. Congress, US President James K. Polk confirms that large amounts of gold had been discovered in California.

1766:
In London, James Christie holds his first sale (he later founded Christie's, the world's oldest auction house).

1492:
Christopher Columbus becomes the first European to set foot on the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic).