On this day

7 August in history.

5 moments from 1909 to 1974: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Philippe Petit at the 81st Academy Awards

1974

A walk between the towers. Philippe Petit walked a wire strung between the twin towers of the World Trade Center, more than 400 metres up, for about 45 minutes.

Wikipedia: Philippe Petit

Photo: Chrisa Hickey at https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisahickey/ / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

More from 7 August

  1. Alice Huyler Ramsey , standing beside her auto

    1909

    Driving across America

    Alice Huyler Ramsey arrived in San Francisco after 59 days, the first woman to drive across the United States.

    Wikipedia: Alice Huyler Ramsey

    Photo: Bain News Service / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  2. A diagram of Brooklands racing circuit prior to the Second World War. (The course ran anti-clockwise)

    1926

    The first British Grand Prix

    Britain's first Grand Prix motor race was held at Brooklands in Surrey.

    Wikipedia: 1926 British Grand PrixWikipedia: Brooklands

    Photo: BrooklandsCircuitLayout.png : Original uploader was Spiderlounge at en.wikipedia deriva… / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. Harvard Mark I

    1944

    The Harvard Mark I

    IBM presented the Harvard Mark I, a huge early computer, to Harvard University.

    Wikipedia: Harvard Mark I

    Photo: The original uploader was Daderot at English Wikipedia . / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

  4. NASA astronaut image of Raroia Atoll (Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia) in the Pacific Ocean

    1947

    Kon-Tiki reaches Polynesia

    After 101 days on the Pacific, Thor Heyerdahl's raft ran onto a reef at Raroia. All six crew got safely ashore.

    Wikipedia: Kon-Tiki expedition

    Photo: NASA / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.