8 July in history.

1497

Vasco da Gama sets sail. Vasco da Gama left Lisbon on a voyage that reached India the next year, the first sea route from Europe to Asia.

Wikipedia: Vasco da Gama

Photo: Sailko / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

More from 8 July

1. 

   1776

   The Declaration is read aloud

   The Declaration of Independence was read to a crowd in Philadelphia for the first time.

   Wikipedia: United States Declaration of Independence

   Photo: Rdsmith4 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.5)

2. 

   1874

   The Mounties march west

   The new North-West Mounted Police set out from Manitoba on a long trek to bring law to Canada's western plains.

   Wikipedia: North-West Mounted PoliceWikipedia: March West

   Photo: ConfidentBobcat / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

3. 

   1889

   The Wall Street Journal

   The Wall Street Journal printed its first issue in New York, four pages of business news.

   Wikipedia: The Wall Street Journal

   Photo: Ajay Suresh / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

4. 

   1980

   The first State of Origin

   Queensland beat New South Wales in the first State of Origin rugby league match, now one of Australia's biggest sporting events.

   Wikipedia: State of Origin series

   Photo: MarioBayo / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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