Today in History

Today in History - March 1

Today is Sunday, March 1, the 60th day of 2009. There are 305 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On March 1, 1932, Charles A. Lindbergh Jr., the 20-month-old son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh, was kidnapped from the family home near Hopewell, N.J.

On this date:

In 1781, the Continental Congress declared the Articles of Confederation to be in force, following ratification by Maryland.

In 1790, President George Washington signed a measure authorizing the first U.S. Census.

In 1809, the Illinois Territory came into existence.

In 1867, Nebraska became the 37th state.

In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed an act creating Yellowstone National Park.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps.

In 1981, Irish Republican Army member Bobby Sands began a hunger strike at the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland; he died 65 days later.

One year ago: The USS New York, an amphibious assault ship built with scrap steel from the ruins of the World Trade Center, was christened at Avondale, La.

Today's Birthdays: Singer Harry Belafonte is 82. Rock singer Roger Daltrey is 65.

Thought for Today: "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." — Rudyard Kipling, English author (1865-1936).