As an adult, Mr. Goethals became army officer and chief engineer over thousands of workers who completed the passage we know as the Panama Canal. The engineering marvel took eleven years to complete at a cost of $337 million. The U.S. President at the time, Theodore Roosevelt, said it was “the greatest task of its own kind that has ever been performed in the world.” 

The United States government maintained control and payed rent to the Panamanian government until December 31, 1999, when it relinquished control of the canal to Panama. 

We wonder if even Col. George W. Goethals knew how important the Panama Canal would be, both strategically and in commercial trade throughout the century. 

 1947 - Richard Lewis
comedian, actor: Anything But Love, Daddy Dearest, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Wagon’s East, geboren
 1947: Irene Waugh, austral. Mezzosopranistin, geboren
1947 Richard Lewis comedian/actor (Anything But Love) , geboren

 1948 - Rick Smith
hockey: NHL: Boston Bruins, California Golden Seals, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals, geboren
 1948: Ian Paice, engl. Schlagzeuger, "Deep Purple", "Whitesnake", geboren
1948 Fred Grandy Sioux City Iowa, actor (Gopher-Love Boat)/(Rep-R-Iowa) , geboren

Marilyn Monroe married the playwright Arthur Miller in a London ceremony on this day in 1956. Although many thought the movie star and the Pulitzer prize-winning author of 'Death of a Salesman' an unlikely match, their marriage lasted a respectable five years. The couple are seen boarding an airplane in 1956. 
1956 - Charles Dumas cleared the high jump, which was set at 7’ 1/2", at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Dumas became the first athlete to break the seven-foot barrier. 
1956 - Der amerikanische Schriftsteller Arthur Miller und die Schauspielerin Marilyn Monroe heiraten
 1956: In New York heiratet der Schriftsteller Arthur Miller die Schauspielerin Marilyn Monroe.
1956 Charles Dumas, makes 1st high jump over 7' (2.13 m)-LA, Calif
1956 Federal interstate highway system act signed

 1968: Während der "Globus-Krawalle" kommt es in Zürich zu schweren Auseinandersetzungen zwischen Jugendlichen und der Polizei.

1968, a free concert was held in London's Hyde Park with Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Roy Harper.
 

1968, The Small Faces started a six week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Ogden's Nut Gone Flake', a concept album with a round cover designed to look like a tobacco tin.
Hochzeit von Bridget Hedison, Filmschaffende/R, und David Hedison, Filmschaffende/R, 

1969, appearing London’s Royal Albert Hall ‘Pop Proms’, Led Zeppelin, Liverpool Scene and Mick Abraham’s Blodwyn Pig.

1974, Charles Aznavour was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'She', the French singers only UK No.1.
 

1974, Singer songwriter Gordon Lightfoot scored his only US No.1 single with 'Sundown'.
 

1985, David Bowie and Mick Jagger recorded 'Dancing In The Street', for the forthcoming 'Live Aid', fundraising event.
 

1985, Marillion scored their only UK No.1 album with 'Misplaced Childhood'.
 

1985, U2 played in front of 55,000 fans at Croke Park, Dublin.
 

1985, UK TV music show The Tube presented a six hour special featuring, Alison Moyet, Howard Jones, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Divine, Billy McKenzie and Nona Hendrix.

 1986: In Mexiko-City (Mexiko) gewinnt Argentinien das Finale der 13. Fußballweltmeisterschaft gegen die Bundesrepublik Deutschland mit 3:2.
 1986 Boston Red Sox trade for Tom Seaver
1986 Sparky Anderson is 1st to win 600 games as manager in both leagues

1988, The Guardian newspaper reported that many music CD's would fade and distort over the next few years due to manufacturing faults, sending shock-waves through the music industry.
 

1988, appearing at the Moore Theater, Seattle, Nirvana, Mudhoney and Tad.

1991, Jason Donovan had his third UK No.1 single with 'Any Dream Will Do' taken from 'Joseph The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'.
 

1991, Skid Row entered the US album chart at No.1 with 'Slave To The Grind'.

1996, producer George Martin received an Knighthood, also music promoter Harvey Goldsmith became an MBE and Van Morrison an OBE.

2000, Eminem's mother went to court claiming defamation of character in a $10 million civil suit, after taking exception to the line "My mother smokes more dope than I do" from her son's single 'My Name Is'. 

Iowa : Independence Sunday (1776) - - - - - ( Sunday )