On this day

4 October in history.

5 moments from 1876 to 1983: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Inscription lower right: "To my dear Dr. Orlof M. Orlow Sept. 22nd - Sincerely Yours - Gutzon Borglum 1919". Published in: Archives of American Art Journal v. 27, no. 2, p. 15.

1927

Work begins on Mount Rushmore. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum and a team of around 400 workers started carving the giant faces of Mount Rushmore.

Wikipedia: Gutzon Borglum

Photo: Unidentified photographer / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 4 October

  1. 1876

    Texas A&M University opens

    Texas A&M University opened its doors as the first public college or university in the state of Texas.

    Wikipedia: Texas A&M University

  2. Norman Rockwell, half-length portrait, facing right, arms folded

    1941

    Willie Gillis first appears

    Norman Rockwell's much-loved character Willie Gillis made his first appearance on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post.

    Wikipedia: Willie GillisWikipedia: Norman RockwellWikipedia: The Saturday Evening Post

    Photo: en:Underwood & Underwood / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. A replica of Sputnik 1 on display at a museum in Saint Petersburg.

    1957

    Sputnik 1 circles the Earth

    Sputnik 1 became the first human-made satellite to orbit the Earth.

    Wikipedia: Sputnik 1

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

  4. - former World Land Speed Record holder

    1983

    Richard Noble sets a land speed record

    In Nevada's Black Rock Desert, Richard Noble drove at 633.468 miles per hour (1,019.468 km/h), setting a new land speed record.

    Wikipedia: Richard Noble

    Photo: ian mcwilliams / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

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