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January 15, 2001: Wikipedia Launches, Transforming How the World Accesses Knowledge

January 15, 2001

January 15, 2001: Wikipedia Launches, Transforming How the World Accesses Knowledge

On this date, Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger launched Wikipedia as a free online encyclopedia that anyone could edit. What began as a side project to the failing Nupedia quickly grew into the world's largest reference work, with over 60 million articles in more than 300 languages. Despite criticisms about accuracy and bias, Wikipedia has become one of the most visited websites globally and transformed how humanity accesses and shares knowledge.

January 15, 1559: Elizabeth I Crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey

January 15, 1559

January 15, 1559: Elizabeth I Crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey

On this date, Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey at age 25. Despite a precarious claim to the throne and deep religious divisions in England, her coronation ceremony brilliantly balanced Catholic tradition with Protestant innovation, setting the stage for a 44-year reign that would transform England into a global power and usher in a golden age of culture and exploration.

January 15, 1967: Green Bay Packers Win First Super Bowl, Defeating Kansas City Chiefs 35-10

January 15, 1967

January 15, 1967: Green Bay Packers Win First Super Bowl, Defeating Kansas City Chiefs 35-10

On this date, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game, later known as Super Bowl I. Backup receiver Max McGee, playing despite a severe hangover, caught seven passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, including the first touchdown in Super Bowl history, leading the Packers to victory before 63,036 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

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January 10, 1982: "The Catch" Sends 49ers to Super Bowl

January 10, 1982

January 10, 1982: "The Catch" Sends 49ers to Super Bowl

On this date the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark made a leaping fingertip catch from Joe Montana with 58 seconds remaining in the NFC Championship Game, securing a dramatic 28-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at Candlestick Park and launching a dynasty.

January 13, 1968: Johnny Cash Performs at Folsom Prison

January 13, 1968

January 13, 1968: Johnny Cash Performs at Folsom Prison

On this date, Johnny Cash performed at Folsom Prison in California, recording what would become one of the most celebrated live albums in music history. The performance resurrected his struggling career and established him as a champion for prisoners and the forgotten members of society, a role he would embrace for the rest of his life.

January 13, 1962: Wilt Chamberlain's 73-Point Game Before the 100

January 13, 1962

January 13, 1962: Wilt Chamberlain's 73-Point Game Before the 100

On January 13, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 73 points and grabbed 36 rebounds in a regulation game against the Chicago Packers, setting a record for the highest-scoring regulation game in NBA history at the time. The performance was part of a legendary 1961-62 season in which Chamberlain averaged 50.6 points per game, a record that still stands today.

January 14, 1973: Miami Dolphins Win Super Bowl VII to Complete NFL's Only Perfect Season

January 14, 1973

January 14, 1973: Miami Dolphins Win Super Bowl VII to Complete NFL's Only Perfect Season

On this date, the Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Redskins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII, completing the NFL's only perfect season at 17-0. Despite a late scare from kicker Garo Yepremian's infamous gaffe, the Dolphins' defense held strong to secure their place in football immortality.

January 14, 1784: Treaty of Paris Ratification Officially Ends the American Revolution

January 14, 1784

January 14, 1784: Treaty of Paris Ratification Officially Ends the American Revolution

On January 14, 1784, the Continental Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, officially ending the Revolutionary War and establishing the United States as an independent nation. The ratification came just in time to meet the six-month deadline, securing generous territorial boundaries and international recognition for the new republic.

January 14, 1954: Marilyn Monroe Marries Joe DiMaggio

January 14, 1954

January 14, 1954: Marilyn Monroe Marries Joe DiMaggio

On this date, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio married at San Francisco City Hall in a ceremony that was meant to be private but became a media circus. Their marriage lasted only 274 days, but DiMaggio's love for Monroe endured until his death, symbolized by the roses he sent to her grave for decades after her tragic passing in 1962.

January 13, 1999: Michael Jordan Retires for Second Time

January 13, 1999

January 13, 1999: Michael Jordan Retires for Second Time

On this date Michael Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls for the second time, ending the greatest individual run in NBA history. He would later return to play two seasons with the Washington Wizards from 2001-2003, but his legacy was cemented in Chicago, where he won six championships and became a global icon.

January 12, 1969: Joe Namath Delivers on Super Bowl Guarantee Win

January 12, 1969

January 12, 1969: Joe Namath Delivers on Super Bowl Guarantee Win

On this day in history, January 12, 1969, Joe Namath and the New York Jets stunned the sports world by defeating the heavily favored Baltimore Colts 16–7 in Super Bowl III. The victory fulfilled Namath’s famous guarantee and marked the first time an AFL team won a championship over the NFL, reshaping professional football history.

January 9, 1972: Los Angeles Lakers' Record 33-Game Winning Streak Ends

January 9, 1972

January 9, 1972: Los Angeles Lakers' Record 33-Game Winning Streak Ends

On January 9, 1972, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 120-104, ending the longest winning streak in major professional sports history at 33 games, a record that still stands more than 50 years later.

January 9, 2001: Apple Launches iTunes, Revolutionizing How People Consume Music

January 9, 2001

January 9, 2001: Apple Launches iTunes, Revolutionizing How People Consume Music

On January 9, 2001, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced iTunes at Macworld in San Francisco, launching a media player that would revolutionize the way people consumed digital music and set the stage for Apple's transformation into an entertainment powerhouse.