On this day

19 May in history.

5 moments from 1743 to 1997: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Banff National Park

1911

The world's first national park service. Canada created the Dominion Parks Branch, now Parks Canada, the first government service devoted to national parks.

Wikipedia: Parks Canada

Photo: Gorgo / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 19 May

  1. A thermometer put into a glass of ice and water showing that the temperature is 0 °C

    1743

    A thermometer from 0 to 100

    Jean-Pierre Christin described a thermometer with 0 for freezing water and 100 for boiling, the scale we use today.

    Wikipedia: Jean-Pierre ChristinWikipedia: Celsius

    Photo: Ulflund / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

  2. Portrait of William F. Cody (aka) "Buffalo Bill"

    1883

    Buffalo Bill's Wild West

    Buffalo Bill Cody's travelling show of riding, shooting and stories of the West opened in Omaha, Nebraska.

    Wikipedia: Buffalo BillWikipedia: Buffalo Bill

    Photo: Moffett, Chicago / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. Mockup (1:1) of the spacecraft Venera 1 at Memorial Museum of Astronautics (Moscow)

    1961

    Flying past another planet

    The Soviet probe Venera 1 passed Venus, the first spacecraft to fly by another planet, though its radio had already gone quiet.

    Wikipedia: Venera 1

    Photo: Armael / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

  4. Vista del mirador de cuatro palos, Pinal de Amoles Qro, México

    1997

    Sierra Gorda is protected

    Mexico's Sierra Gorda, one of its most varied natural regions, was declared a biosphere reserve.

    Wikipedia: Sierra Gorda

    Photo: Flores 1299 / 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.