This Week In History

May 6 - In 1937, the hydrogen-filled German dirigible Hindenburg burned and crashed in Lakehurst, New Jersey, killing 36 of the 97 people on board.

May 7 - In 1992, the Space Shuttle Endeavour was launched on its first mission, STS-49.

May 8 - In 1945, half a million people descended on Times Square in New York City to celebrate the announcement that Germany had unconditionally surrendered its military forces to the Allies.

May 9 - In 1994, South Africa’s newly elected parliament chose Nelson Mandela to be the country’s first black president.

May 10 - In 1869, a golden spike was driven at Promontory, Utah, marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States.

May 11 - In 1816, a group of prominent Americans founded the American Bible Society.