14 years after Vermont declared itself a separate Republic from New York State in 1777, George Washington approved an act on February 18, 1791 which made Vermont the 14th state (as of March 4th of that year.) Painting of George Washington via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>

American Red Cross nurses study French and Music at St. Paul’s Chapel, New York City. Red Cross nurses receiving a French lesson at St. Paul’s Chapel, New York, where classes were held in French and music. Prof. Jacques Bars, a graduate of Lille University, France, devoted a great deal of his time to the furnishing of the musical and French education of the nurses. February 18, 1918 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>

“Captain H. M. Bragg, of General Gillmore’s staff, raising the flag over Fort Sumter, February 18, 1865, on a temporary staff formed of an oar and boat-hook.” via NYPL, no known restrictions –>

On February 18, 1885, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was published in the United States. Image of Twain in the 1880s via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>

On February 18, 1939, the Golden Gate International Exposition opened in San Francisco, California. The exposition which took place over 8 months in 1939 and over 4 months in 1940 drew 17 million visitors and celebrated the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge. Image of a 3 cent stamp from 1939 featuring the Golden Gate International Exposition via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>

On February 18, 1914, singer-songwriter Julius Kuczynski (Pee Wee King) was born in Abrams, Wisconsin. He co-wrote “Tennessee Waltz” which was one of over 400 songs that he wrote or co-wrote during his career. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>

“God has given us our talents, not to copy the talents of others, but rather to use our brains and imagination in order to obtain the revelation of true beauty.” – Louis Comfort Tiffany who was born on February 18, 1848 in New York City. Image: “Apple Blossoms” a photograph by Louis Comfort Tiffany c. 1890s-1900s via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>

On February 18, 2006, Shani Davis became the first African American to win a gold medal in an individual event at a Winter Olympics when he won the Men’s 1000m speed skating competition in Turin, Italy. Image of Shani by Sasha Krotov CC BY 3.0 in 2016 via Wikimedia Commons –>

Sign “Home of the 1960 Winter Olympics” at the Village of Palisades-Tahoe, a year-round Sierra Mountain resort in Olympic Valley, west of Tahoe City, California On February 18, 1960, The Winter Olympics opened. Image by Carol Highsmith via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>

Calvin Coolidge and Native American group at White House, Washington, D.C. February 18, 1925 Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>

Scientists debate whether Pluto is a planet or dwarf planet, but it was definitely discovered on February 18, 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh. Tombaugh began building telescopes on his family’s farm in 1926. He made his discovery at Arizona’s Lowell Observatory, but didn’t earn a degree in astronomy until 1936. Image via Wikimedia Commons, copyright not renewed public domain in the US. –>

Officers and guests lunch under giant cactus near Fort Thomas, Arizona. February 18, 1886 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>

Passengers having an in-flight meal aboard a Ford Trimotor plane c. 1930 Earlier that year, on February 18, 1930, Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to be flown (and milked) on an airplane. The historic event occurred aboard a Ford Trimotor. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>

A U.S. Navy Dauntless about to land on the USS Yorktown. The plane was returning from a bombing mission (Operation Hailstone) that took place February 17-18, 1944 over a Japanese base in the Pacific A senior landing signal officer is on the right. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>

American actor John Travolta was born on February 18, 1954 in Englewood, New Jersey. Image of John with his parents Salvatore (Sam) and Helen in February 1978 via Alamy –>

Volodymyr Palahniuk, more famously known as Jack Palance, was born on February 18, 1919 in Lattimer Mines, Pennsylvania. After making his Broadway debut in the late 1940s, Palance went on to appear in films made in the U.S. and abroad as well as television programs. He even wrote and recorded a country tune called “The Meanest Guy that Ever Lived.” Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain –>