October 21^st– On this day in 1910, a bomb exploded in the Los Angeles Times building in downtown Los Angeles. Twenty-one people were killed and many more injured. The publisher, Harrison Otis, hired a private detective named William J. Burns to crack the case. Burns ultimately discovered that the McNamara brothers were behind the explosion, and had them acquitted and put on trial immediately. Their defense attorney was the best defense attorney in America at that time, Clarence Darrow. After a very long trial, the McNamara brothers pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty, and the case was closed.

October 22^nd– On this day in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Highway Beautification Project, which was a plan to limit billboards and other forms of outdoor advertising, as well as get rid of unsightly messes along America’s interstate highways. It turned out that this was actually a project being run by the first lady, Lady Bird Johnson. Many urban activists supported the project, because they realized the ways in which it could benefit the environment. Many business groups and other advertisers, however, did not support the idea and demanded that they receive compensation from the government for having to take down their billboards and other advertisements. Still, Johnson’s bill was still important, and created an idea to preserve America’s natural beauty, that still stands today.

October 23^rd– On this day in 1864, during the Civil War, Confederate General Sterling Price’s raid on Missouri nearly turns into disaster when his army is pinned between two Union forces at Westport, Missouri, near Kansas City. Although outnumbered, Price’s forces managed to slip safely away after the Battle of Westport, which was the biggest conflict west of the Mississippi River.

October 24^th– On this day in 1901, a 63-year-old schoolteacher named Annie Edson Taylor becomes the first person to take the plunge over Niagara Falls in a barrel. This was her idea to gain fame and fortune, and she picked the best day to do it: her birthday! She was knocked violently from side to side by the rapids and the propelled over the edge of the falls. About 20 minutes after she reached shore, her journey to fame began. She didn’t obtain the fame and fortune that she desired, but she inspired many copy-cat daredevils to take the plunge. Going over Niagara Falls is now illegal, and survivors face charges and stiff fines on either side of the border.

October 25^th– On this day in 1881, Pablo Picasso was born. He was born in Malaga, Spain, and was one of the greatest and most influential artists of the 20^th century. Picasso was pushed greatly by his father to pursue a career in art. By the age of 19, Pablo had already had an exhibition in Paris, and had produced hundreds of paintings. His work of over 50,000 pieces can be separated into The Blue Period, The Rose Period, and his cubism period. Picasso continued to work fervently after World War ll, but this work was less studied than his earlier creations. He continued to produce art with undiminished force until his death in 1973 at the age of 91.