This day in history

Some notable events today include:

1777- Marquis de Lafayette was named General of the Continental Army at age 19

1792- the US first government building, the US Mint in Philadelphia, layed its cornerstone 

1876- US Coast Guard established a training school in New Bedford, MA

1912- Congress passed the Sims Act, censuring the transportation of fight films. The law regulated the distribution of films depicting prizefighting, either fictional or non-fictional. It also threatened further regulations of cinema. It was repealed in 1940.

1954- Ardito Desio and the Italian expedition he led reached the summit of K2, the second tallest mountain on Earth

1971- Astronauts David Scott and James Irwin became the first humans to drive on the moon. Their moon buggy rides totaled 6.5 hours and almost 28 km

1991- The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty was signed by the US and the Soviet Union

2012- at the summer Olympics, Michael Phelps earned a record-breaking 8 medals. Throughout his Olympic career he earned 28 medals

Some interesting birthdays today are Wesley Snipes (1962) and J.K. Rowling (1965)