On January 13, 1794, a Flag Act was authorized by Congress and signed by President George Washington. The act changed the design of Old Glory to include two additional stars and two additional stripes to represent the most recently added states of Vermont and Kentucky. Image via Shutterstock

On January 13, 1942, Henry Ford received a patent for an automobile that was comprised of plastic panels which were allegedly fabricated from soybeans.Image from Henry Ford’s soybean car patent via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On January 13, 1840, the steamship Lexington caught fire off the coast of Long Island, New York mainly due to flawed engine work.Of the more than 140 passengers on board, only four survived the catastrophe.One of the four survivors, David Crowley, was set adrift on a cotton bale for almost two days. Luckily the bale he was on came ashore and he was able to reach a nearby home for assistance. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison is recorded

On January 13, 1968, Johnny Cash recorded his album “Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison”Image: Johnny Cash in 1964 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

NASA physicist Ray H. Wright receiving assistance while putting on a diver’s suit so that he could enter a test chamber where high levels of pressure, temperature, and noise would be encountered.January 13, 1950 Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

American songwriter of over 200 songs including “My Old Kentucky Home” and “Oh! Susanna” only had 37 cents in his pocket when he passed away on January 13, 1864 at the age of 37. There was also a note that was found in Stephen Foster’s wallet that said: “Dear friends and gentle hearts”Image of Stephen Foster c. 1860, via Wikimedia Commons public domain

On January 13, 1888, The National Geographic Society was founded. Here’s a photo of President John F. Kennedy presenting the National Geographic Society’s Gold Medal to Captain Jacques Cousteau, Director General of the Oceanarium of Monaco in 1961Image via Wikimedia Commons public domain

The U.S. Navy fleet oiler USS Kankakee refueling the light cruiser USS Montpelier, not visible, in the Solomons area on January 13, 1944.Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Robert Stack was born on January 13, 1919 in Los Angeles, CaliforniaPhoto: Robert Stack as Eliot Ness in The Untouchables in 1960 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

A photograph taken on January 13, 1926, of acclaimed American mystery writer Mary Roberts Rinehart leaving her home and about to enter a vehicle in Washington, D.C. Mary is credited with creating the concept of “the butler did it,” and she was considered the “American Agatha Christie.”Photo via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On Friday the 13th in January 1939 “Son of Frankenstein” starring Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Basil Rathbone was released. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On January 13, 1920, workers at Seattle’s Butterfield Trunk company posed with the hand-made travel trunks they crafted. By 1930 the Butterfield firm was producing 1,500 steamer trunks a month. In 1968 the company was bought by Skyway Luggage.Image from Seattle MHI via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.

Anders Haugen in mid air during a ski jump on $6,000 of imported snow at Briarcliff Lodge in Westchester, New York which was still barren of natural fallen snow on January 13, 1924.via NYPL Digital Collections, no known restrictions.

John Davis was born on January 13, 1787.He served as Governor of Massachusetts for two nonconsecutive terms from 1834-1835 & 1841-1843.Photo: Library of Congress, no known restrictions

Winter Moonlight The silence of the silver nightLies visibly upon the pines;In marble flame the moon declinesWhere spectral mountains dream in light.And pale as with eternal sleep,The enchanted valleys, far and strange,Extend forever without changeBeneath the veiling splendours deep.Carven of steel or fretted stone,One stark and leafless autumn treeWith shadows made of ebony,Leans on the moon-ward field alone.By American writer Clark Ashton Smith who was born on January 13, 1893 in Long Valley, California.