Finding the unexpected in the everyday.
An unprecedented and even jaw-dropping victory in a cycling race took place in France when native son Francis Faure set a new world record by pedaling a different type of bicycle at the Vélodrome d’Hiver of Paris. Instead of using a conventional bicycle, Faure competed with a recumbent bicycle – a low-slung model placing the... Continue Reading →
The Story Bridge in the state of Queensland in northeastern Australia made its public debut. The 2,549-foot-long structure, spanning the Brisbane River and connecting the northern suburbs of Brisbane with the city’s southern suburbs, is the longest cantilever bridge in Australia. At the time of its grand opening, the Story Bridge – measuring 79 feet... Continue Reading →
A new airline, Windward Islands Airway (Winair), began operations in Sint Maarten in the northeast Caribbean. At the time, Sint Maarten – constituting most of the southern portion of the island of Saint Martin – was one of five Dutch island territories in the region that were collectively known as the Netherlands Antilles; Sint Maarten’s... Continue Reading →
In the Republic of Turkey, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge in Istanbul was completed about two years after construction on it had begun. The completion of the 4,950-foot-long bridge was formally commemorated by having Turgut Özal, who was Turkey’s prime minister at the time, become the first person to drive an automobile across the new... Continue Reading →
In western India, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link was first opened to traffic. Characterized by the Mumbai-based Economic Times as “India’s latest showcase to the world,” the cable-stayed bridge formally debuted with only four of its eight lanes opened. The other four lanes were opened nearly nine months later. The bridge, measuring three-and-a-half miles in length,... Continue Reading →
Josef Ressel, an inventor who helped pioneer key advances in ship propellers, was born in the town of Chrudim in Bohemia (at the time under the rule of the Austrian branch of the royal House of Habsburg and now part of the Czech Republic). Ressel studied at various institutions, including an artillery school in the... Continue Reading →
In Southeast Asia, the newly established Wearnes Air Services (WAS) began operations. This marked the first regular commercial air service between the island of Singapore and the Malay Peninsula, with a de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide biplane known as “Governor Raffles” making the inaugural flight from Singapore (at the time part of the British territories... Continue Reading →
On a Sunday evening in South Australia, a new lighthouse made its formal debut at Cape du Couedic on Kangaroo Island. It had taken approximately three years to build the 82-foot-tall Cape du Couedic Lighthouse. G.G. Duthie was named the head keeper for the new lighthouse, with G.E. Luckett and G. Marmant appointed to assist... Continue Reading →
Anders Svedlund became the first person to cross the Indian Ocean in a rowing boat when he arrived at a beach near the city of Diego-Suarez (now Antsiranana) in northern Madagascar. Svedlund, who had been born in Sweden but ultimately moved to New Zealand, completed his pioneering journey 64 days after setting off from Western... Continue Reading →
Louis Chiron, a record-setting Monégasque driver in the Grands Prix that are part of the Formula One car races, died in Monte Carlo at the age of 79. Chiron, who was born in Monte Carlo in 1899, developed a strong interest in both cars and racing as a teenager. Chiron’s first big racing victory occurred... Continue Reading →
Transportation History 