This Day in History for January 11 – Grand Canyon Becomes US Monument and More

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1908 – President Theodore Roosevelt makes the Grand Canyon a national monument (More info)

1935 – Amelia Earhart becomes the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California (More info)

1964 – US Surgeon General Dr. Luther Terry publishes a landmark report saying that smoking may be hazardous to one’s health, sparking nationwide and worldwide anti-smoking efforts (More info)

1973 – Baseball’s American League adopts the controversial “designated hitter” rule, which allows another player to bat for the pitcher (More info)

2003 – In reaction to the Jon Burge scandal, outgoing Illinois Governor George Ryan commutes the death sentences of 167 prisoners on the state’s death row (More info)