On January 14th, 1690, the clarinet was invented in Nuremberg, Germany.

On January 13th, 1854, Anthony Faas patented the accordion.

On January 12th, 2005, the Deep Impact space mission launched from Cape Canaveral.

On January 11th, 1908, the Grand Canyon National Monument was created.

On January 10th, 1946, the first United Nations General Assembly opened in London.

On January 9th, 1929, the Seeing Eye was formed to train guide dogs.

On January 8th, 1958, Bobby Fischer won the United States Chess Championship at age 14.

On January 7th, 1610, Galileo discovered Jupiter's four largest moons.

On January 6th, 1893, Washington National Cathedral was chartered by Congress.

On January 5th, 1933, construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began in San Francisco Bay.

On January 4th, 1958, Sputnik 1 fell to Earth from its orbit.

On January 3rd, 1938, the March of Dimes was established by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

On January 2nd, 1818, the British Institution of Civil Engineers was formed.

On January 1st, 404, the last known gladiator competition took place.

On December 31st, 1909, the Manhattan Bridge opened.

On December 29th, 1862, the USS Monitor sank off the coast of Cape Hatteras.

On December 29th, 1170, Thomas Becket was slain in his own cathedral.

On December 28th, 1065, Westminster Abbey was consecrated.

On December 27th, 537, the Hagia Sophia was completed.

On December 26th, 1898, Marie and Pierre Curie announced the isolation of radium.