Today In History: Parks For Everyone

On this day in history, August 25th, a range of remarkable events unfolded. In 1875, Captain Matthew Webb of Great Britain became the first person to swim the English Channel without assistance, completing the feat in just under 22 hours. The U.S. National Park Service was founded in 1916, marking a major step in preserving natural treasures. In 1950, President Truman intervened in a national railroad strike by placing the railroads under Army control. Fast forward to 1985, when 20-year-old Dwight Gooden became the youngest MLB pitcher to win 20 games. In 1986, Paul Simon’s groundbreaking Graceland album was released, blending American pop and South African rhythms. In 1991, Carl Lewis set a new world record in the 100 meters, clocking in at 9.86 seconds. And on this day in 1998, Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill dropped, debuting at No. 1 and later winning Album of the Year at the Grammys—a first for a hip-hop album. That’s today’s Almanac, on Northwest Newsradio.