On This Day in History

B. Anthony Stewart is credited with the first image on the cover of National Geographic featuring the 49-star flag of the United States after Alaska's admission to the Union as a U.S. state.

Ghana became a republic, with Kwame Nkrumah as its first president.

The Belfast Banking Company, which issued banknotes in Northern Ireland, merged with its rival Northern Bank.

Sony introduced the Walkman, a portable audio player that changed listening habits by offering users the ability to play one's own choice of music.

A North Korean Ilyushin Il-62M jet crashed into the Fouta Djallon mountains in Guinea, killing all 23 people on board.

Legislative powers in Scotland were first devolved from the Scottish Office in London to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.

Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937 and DHL Flight 611 collided in mid-air over Überlingen, Germany, killing all 71 people aboard both aircraft.

Rioting erupted in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, over allegations of fraud surrounding the recent legislative election.