August 16, 1896
While salmon fishing in Yukon Territory, George Carmack spots nuggets of gold in a creek bed, sparking the last great gold rush in the American West.
August 17, 1969
The grooviest event in music history, the Woodstock Music Festival, draws to a close after three days of peace, love, and rock ‘n’ roll in upstate New York.
August 20, 1911
A dispatcher in the New York Times office sends the first telegram around the world via commercial service.