On this day: July 13

/on/july-13

1848 • neutral • 5 views

Man Survives Railroad Spike Through Skull in 1848 Accident

Mid-19th-century railroad construction scene with workers, wooden rails and spikes, and a stretcher at the sideline; horses and carts visible, no identifiable faces.

On July 13, 1848, a worker survived a railroad spike driven through his skull in an industrial accident; the incident drew contemporary attention for both its horror and the rudimentary medical care that followed.

Read

1995 • neutral • 5 views

Chicago’s 1995 Heat Wave: One of the Deadliest in the City’s History

A summertime Chicago neighborhood street in the mid-1990s: low-rise apartment buildings, shade trees, parked cars, and a shaded storefront awning under bright sunlight.

In mid-July 1995, Chicago endured an extreme heat wave that led to a sharp rise in deaths and exposed vulnerabilities in urban infrastructure and social services. The event prompted changes in public health responses and emergency planning.

Read

1977 • neutral • 4 views

New York City Blackout of July 13, 1977: Widespread Outages and Civil Unrest

Darkened New York City street at night in July 1977 with damaged storefronts and abandoned cars, dim silhouettes of emergency responders and scattered debris.

On July 13–14, 1977, a citywide power failure plunged New York City into darkness, triggering widespread looting, arson, and disruptions to transit and services amid an already fraught economic and social climate.

Read

2005 • neutral • 4 views

NASA Suspends Shuttle Flights After Safety Concerns

Space shuttle on the launch pad with its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters, viewed from ground level under an overcast sky; technicians and ground equipment are nearby but not individually identifiable.

Following safety issues identified in July 2005, NASA delayed space shuttle launches to review inspection and repair procedures, focusing on concerns about foam debris and external tank integrity.

Read