This Week in History…

February 18, 1930:

United States

Though nursery rhymes tell of cows jumping over the moon, not many people think that cows can fly. This day marks the 72nd anniversary of the first flight of a cow. Elm Farm Ollie, as she was called, flew in an airplane over the Midwest, being milked on the way. Her milk was sealed in paper containers and parachuted over St. Louis, Missouri.

February 19, 1881:

Kansas

Kansas was the first state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages. This began the disturbing trend that culminated in the Volstead Prohibition Act of 1919. The law was overturned eight years later, much to the delight of college students everywhere.

February 20, 1986:

Leninsk, Kazakhstan (USSR)

The Mir (Peace) Space Station was sent into orbit. Though it was launched without a crew, the space station served as a docking port and living quarters for both Russian and American crews during its 15 years of service.

February 22, 1956:

Montgomery, Al.

The black organizers of the Montgomery bus boycott, including Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., and E.D. Nixon, turned themselves in after the white leaders of the city threatened their arrest if the boycotts didn’t end immediately. As a result, the story was covered by media worldwide, giving the Civil Rights Movement international publicity.