Finding the unexpected in the everyday.
November 10, 1955 The East Capitol Street Bridge in Southeast Washington, D.C., was officially opened. This bridge, carrying East Capitol Street across the Anacostia River, had been built to help reduce increasingly heavy traffic in that region of the nation’s capital. The dedication ceremony for the East Capitol Street Bridge commenced at 3:30 on that... Continue Reading →
November 9, 1922 More than three decades after being launched, the Norwegian ship Skomvær was retired from service. This three-masted barque was the first sailing ship in Norway to be built with steel. Measuring 257.4 feet (78.5 meters) in length, Skomvær also long held the record as the largest of all Norwegian vessels. Skomvær was... Continue Reading →
November 7, 1857 On Maryland’s side of the Potomac River, a cast iron light pole was installed as the first navigational aid in an area that is about 20 miles (32.2 kilometers) south of Washington, D.C. This pole was specifically put into place on the grounds of Fort Washington, which ultimately served for many years... Continue Reading →
November 6, 2018 In the city of Bhubaneswar in eastern India’s state of Odisha, a public transport bus service known as Mo Bus (the Hindi phrase for “my bus”) was launched. (Bhubaneswar is the capital of Odisha and also that state’s largest city.) Mo Bus was officially inaugurated by Naveen Patnaik, who has served as... Continue Reading →
November 3, 2000 In the Japanese region of Chūgoku, a vehicular bridge spanning the Amagaseto Strait was opened to traffic. This 5,840-foot (1,780-meter)-long structure connects the small island of Tsunoshima with Honshu (Japan’s largest and most populous island). The Tsunoshima Bridge is second only to the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, which is located in the Kansai... Continue Reading →
November 2, 1864 A newly completed railway in the Kingdom of Italy was officially opened. (The Kingdom of Italy existed from 1861 to 1946; it was replaced by the present-day Republic of Italy.) That 61.5-mile (99-kilometer) line connected the city of Bologna in Emilia-Romagna region with the city and comune (municipality) of Pistoia in the... Continue Reading →
October 31, 2011 A rapid transit system in Algiers, the largest city and capital of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, was inaugurated. This system was officially opened by Abdelaziz Bouteflika (1937-2021), Algeria’s president from 1999 to 2019. The Algiers Metro became the second rapid transit system in Africa to go into service. (The first... Continue Reading →
October 27, 2008 In western Switzerland’s canton (member state) of Vaud, a rapid transit station was officially opened near the Place de la Riponne in the city of Lausanne. The Place de la Riponne is a historically significant grand square at the center of Lausanne, which is Switzerland’s fourth largest city and the capital of... Continue Reading →
October 26, 1979 A hiking trail that spans much of the region of Hong Kong known as the New Territories made its public debut. This long-distance trail was officially opened by Murray MacLehose, Baron MacLehose of Beoch, who served as both governor of Hong Kong and the British Crown representative from 1971 to 1982; and... Continue Reading →
October 25, 1892 A lighthouse built at the northern tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and along the Straits of Mackinac was first lit. This structure, which is known as Old Mackinac Point Light, is specifically located at the junction of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron -- one of the busiest areas for vessels in the... Continue Reading →
Transportation History 