19 February in history.

1878

A machine that records sound. Thomas Edison received a patent for the phonograph, the first machine that could record a voice and play it back.

Wikipedia: Phonograph

Photo: Levin C. Handy (per http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cwpbh.04326 ) / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 19 February

1. 

   1910

   Old Trafford opens

   Manchester United played their first match at their new stadium, against Liverpool. Old Trafford is still their home today.

   Wikipedia: Old Trafford

   Photo: Arne Müseler from Salzburg, AT / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

2. 

   1963

   The Feminine Mystique

   Betty Friedan's book about the frustrations of American housewives was published. It helped start a new wave of the women's movement.

   Wikipedia: The Feminine MystiqueWikipedia: Betty Friedan

   Photo: Fred Palumbo , World Telegram staff photographer. Restored by Adam Cuerden / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

3. 

   1985

   Leaving hospital with an artificial heart

   William Schroeder became the first person with a permanent artificial heart to be well enough to leave the hospital.

   Wikipedia: William J. SchroederWikipedia: Artificial heart

   Photo: JNakashima / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

4. 

   2002

   Mapping Mars from orbit

   NASA's Mars Odyssey began mapping the planet's surface with a heat-sensing camera. It went on to work for more than 20 years.

   Wikipedia: 2001 Mars Odyssey

   Photo: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (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.