31 December in history.

1879

Edison lights up the night. Thomas Edison demonstrated his incandescent electric lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey.

Wikipedia: Thomas Edison

Photo: KMJ , alpha masking by Edokter / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

More from 31 December

1. 

   1759

   Arthur Guinness signs a 9,000-year lease

   Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease on the St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin and began brewing.

   Wikipedia: Arthur GuinnessWikipedia: Guinness Brewery

   Photo: Jamt9000 at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)

2. 

   1907

   The first Times Square ball drop

   New York City held its first New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square.

   Wikipedia: Times Square Ball

   Photo: Times Square / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

3. 1995

   The last Calvin and Hobbes

   The final Calvin and Hobbes comic strip was published.

   Wikipedia: Calvin and HobbesWikipedia: Bill Watterson

4. 

   2004

   Taipei 101 opens

   Taipei 101 in Taiwan opened to the public as the world's tallest building at the time, at 509 metres.

   Wikipedia: Taipei 101

   Photo: Taipei Financial Center Corporation / 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.