Finding the unexpected in the everyday.
October 31, 1886 A double-deck metal arch bridge on Portugal’s northwestern coast was formally opened. This structure, crossing the river Douro, serves as a link between the cities of Porto and Villa Nova de Gaia. The bridge was named after Dom Luís I (1838-1889), who reigned as king of Portugal from 1861 until his death.... Continue Reading →
October 30, 1982 USNS Zeus (T-ARC-7), the first cable ship specifically built for the U.S. Navy, was launched at the shipyard of the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego. (USNS stands for "United States Navy Ship"; this prefix is used for non-commissioned vessels that are owned by the Navy but operated by a... Continue Reading →
October 29, 1960 In Peru, Lima International Airport in the seaside city and constitutional province of Callao made its public debut. This airport, which is about 6.8 miles (11 kilometers) northwest of the historic district of the country's capital city of Lima, was officially opened a little over four months after its first international flight... Continue Reading →
October 28, 1967 An airport in the town and locality of Chinchilla in the Australian state of Queensland was officially opened. The inaugural duties for the occasion were performed by Reginald Swartz (1911-2006), who was Australia’s minister for civil aviation from 1966 to 1969. This ceremony took place two days after the first aircraft had... Continue Reading →
October 27, 1981 The Wonhyo Bridge in South Korea’s Seoul metropolitan area was officially opened. This girder bridge spans the Han River and connects Yongsan District with Yeondeungpo District in that region of the country. The 4,822.8-foot (1,470-meter)-long structure was the 13th bridge to be built across the Han River. Construction on the Wonhyo Bridge... Continue Reading →
October 24, 1906 On Spain’s northeastern coast, operations began for the Vallvidrera Funicular in the district of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi in the city of Barcelona. This cable railway system was built on a steep slope of a hill that is part of the Collserola mountain range. The funicular serves as a link between the neighborhood of... Continue Reading →
1942: A Pivotal Milestone for Dodge Trucks Used Extensively as Ambulances During World War II October 23, 1942 Nearly eleven months after the United States entered World War II, the U.S. Army adopted a standardized design for the trucks that served as the main field ambulances for the Allies for the remainder of that global... Continue Reading →
In the Canadian province of British Columbia, the paddle steamer sternwheeler Moyie was launched at Kootenay Lake in the city of Nelson. This vessel, which was built in prefabricated sections in Toronto, became the newest steamship acquired by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). The launch of Moyie was described by the Vancouver-based Daily News Advertiser... Continue Reading →
October 21, 2001 The Goodwill Bridge in Brisbane, the capital and largest city of Australia’s state of Queensland, was officially opened. This structure, which spans the Brisbane River, was built for walking, bicycling, and inline skating. The Goodwill Bridge serves as a connection between Gardens Point in the central business district of Brisbane; and --... Continue Reading →
October 20, 1919 USS Mahopac, originally designated as Fleet Tug No. 29, was commissioned into the U.S. Navy under the command of Lieutenant (junior grade) Harry J. Carey. Mahopac was one of the Navy’s Bagaduce class of steel tugboats. These vessels were designed to carry out major towing assignments at navy yards and also to... Continue Reading →
Transportation History 