Today In History: Brought to you by the number 4

On this day in history, August 11 has seen a wide range of memorable moments. In 1909, the steamship Arapahoe became one of the first vessels to send out an S-O-S distress signal, now the global standard for emergencies at sea and in the air. In 1934, the notorious Alcatraz prison welcomed its first group of federal inmates. Fast forward to 1964, when The Beatles’ film A Hard Day’s Night debuted in U.S. theaters, marking another cultural milestone. Four years later in 1968, the band launched their influential label, Apple Records. In space news, 1989 saw NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft detect two faint rings around Neptune. Then in 1997, President Bill Clinton made history by using the line-item veto for the first time. In the tech world, Airbnb launched its website in 2008, reshaping travel forever. That same day, Canadian singer Feist appeared on Sesame Street, transforming her hit “1234” into a catchy counting lesson. It remains a beloved segment. And that’s your Almanac, on Northwest Newsradio.