July 4: On This Day in History

Each Fourth of July, the sky lights up with fireworks as millions of people celebrate the birth of America. But what else has happened on this day throughout history? Here is a look at some profound events that have taken place on July 4th since the year 1776.

July 4^th, 1826 -- The deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams

Coincidentally, the second and third American Presidents both died on the exact same day: July 4^th, 1826. This day also marked the 50^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which both men played pivotal roles in drafting. Jefferson authored much of the document, while Adams debated fervently for its adoption.

July 4^th, 1845 -- H.D. Thoreau begins his 2 years at Walden Pond

A pioneer in his field, Thoreau shaped much of the modern environmental movement by urging people to value natural resources and preserve the wilderness. For 2 years, beginning in 1845, Thoreau lived in a cabin near Walden Pond in Massachusetts, recording his thoughts and observations. This became the basis for Walden, his spiritual declaration of man's ties to nature.

July 4^th, 1855 -- Walt Whitman publishes Leaves of Grass

In 1855, Walt Whitman sought to define the American experience by self publishing one dozen poems in Leaves of Grass. Over the course of his life, he revised and expanded the book continuously. While some critics praised it as the "cornerstone of American poetics," others bashed his untraditional free verse style and lack of structure. Whitman's undeniable spirit has since placed him in the ranks of the premier American poets.

July 4^th, 1863 -- Confederates surrender Vicksburg, Mississippi

Led by General Ulysses S. Grant, 70,000 troops took Vicksburg in one of the Union's most successful campaigns of the Civil War. Confederate General John C. Pemberton commanded the surrendering side. Because of the defeat, the town of Vicksburg did not recognize the Fourth of July holiday for 81 years after the battle.

July 4^th, 1919 -- Jack Dempsey wins the heavyweight boxing title

Jack Dempsey, known as the "Manassa Mauler," defeated Jess Willard in Ohio to win the heavyweight boxing championship. Willard, who had won the title in 1915 from Jack Johnson, was knocked down seven times by Dempsey in round one alone. Dempsey's overwhelming power and aggressive style made him a fan favorite. He held the title until 1926, when he lost to Gene Tunney.

July 4^th, 1934 -- George Washington dedicated at Mount Rushmore

Sculptor Gutzon Borglum had a specific vision when he planned the famous Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota. He chose to feature four United States Presidents, each representing a piece of American history. Alongside 60 foot facial profiles of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt, Borglum sculpted the face of George Washington, who represents the nation's struggle for independence.

July 4^th, 1939 -- Lou Gehrig retires from baseball

The "Iron Horse" Lou Gehrig played his entire career, including a record setting 2,130 consecutive games, for the New York Yankees. He and teammate Babe Ruth comprised the heart of the most feared Yankee lineups of all time, including the 1927 championship team known "Murderer's Row." His American League record 184 RBIs in a season stands to this day, and his consecutive game mark was not broken until 1995. Unfortunately, Lou Gehrig's career was cut short in 1939 by a rare progressive disease. During his retirement speech, he tearfully addressed Yankee Stadium as "the luckiest man on the face of this earth." Gehrig's moving words became one of the most famous speeches in sports history.

July 4^th, 1970 -- Casey Kasem launches American Top 40

Well before the days of internet and ipods, radio listeners tuned in religiously each week to hear a countdown of the 40 most popular songs in the country. Radio host Casey Kasem co-created and hosted the internationally syndicated show, which debuted in 1970. Each week he gave listeners the latest music news and headlines, before enthusiastically announcing "Now, on with the countdown!" American Top 40 continues its countdown today with current host Ryan Seacrest.

July 4^th, 1997 -- Pathfinder lands on Mars

More than 200 years after the Declaration of Independence was conceived, July 4^th marked an occasion our forefathers could only dream about. In 1997, NASA's Pathfinder travelled 120 million miles in just 7 months before landing on the red planet for the first time in over 2 decades. A remote controlled rover spent the next 30 days collecting valuable information on Mars' topography while snapping upwards of 10,000 pictures. The images were released online and attracted millions of viewers worldwide.

July 4^th, 2009 -- The Statue of Liberty reopens its crown to the public

Since its dedication in 1886, the Statue of Liberty has stood proudly in the New York Harbor as a symbol of America's freedom. Following the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City, the monument was closed to the public due to safety concerns. In 2009 the Statue of Liberty celebrated the nation's birthday by reopening its doors. She continues to draw thousands of visitors each day.

Sources: history.com

on-this-day.com

walden.org

poets.org

lougehrig.com

nps.gov(Statue of Liberty)

nps.gov(Mount Rushmore)

abcnews.com