Today in History

A 5.8 earthquake centered at Mineral, Virginia, damages the Washington Monument, forcing the landmark to close for repairs.

Natascha Kampusch,  abducted at the age of 10 in Austria, escapes from her captor, Wolfgang Priklopil, after 8 years of captivity.

Osama bin Laden issues message entitled “A declaration of war against the Americans occupying the land of the two holy places.”

East and West Germany announce they will unite on Oct 3.

Bolshoi Ballet dancer Alexander Godunov defects in New York City.

Bryan Allen, piloting the Gossamer Condor, wins the Kremer prize for the first human-powered aircraft to fly a one-mile, figure-eight course.

Pathet Lao communists occupy Vientiane, Laos.

Lunar Orbiter 1 takes first photograph of Earth from the moon.

Roger Avary, screenwriter, director (Killing Zoe); shared Academy Award with co-writer Quentin Tarantino for best original screenplay (Pulp Fiction).

Belgium sends troops to Rwanda-Urundi during bloody Tutsi-Hutu conflict.

The Second Taiwan Strait crisis begins: People’s Liberation Army bombards island of Quemoy during Chinese Civil War.

Andreas Floer, mathematician, creator of the Floer homology.