May 24th

1543 - Nicolaus Copernicus published proof of a sun-centered solar system.

1607 - Captain Christopher Newport and 105 followers found the colony of Jamestown at the mouth of the James River on the coast of Virginia.

1738 - The Methodist Church was established.

1764 - Bostonian lawyer James Otis denounced "taxation without representation" and called for the colonies to unite in demonstrating their opposition to Britain’s new tax measures.

1830 - The first passenger railroad service in the U.S. began service.

1844 - Samuel F.B. Morse formally opened America's first telegraph line. The first message was sent from Washington, DC, to Baltimore, MD. The message was "What hath God wrought?"

1878 - The first American bicycle race was held in Boston.

1883 - After 14 years of construction the Brooklyn Bridge was opened to traffic.

1899 - The first public garage was opened by W.T. McCullough.

1935 - The Cincinnati Reds played the Philadelphia Phillies in the first major league baseball game at night. The switch for the floodlights was thrown by U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt.

1962 - The officials of the National Football League ruled that halftime of regular season games would be cut to 15 minutes.

1994 - The four men convicted of bombing the New York's World Trade Center were each sentenced to 240 years in prison.