The New York Horticultural Society was founded.
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The super-bright comet 'Hale-Bopp' reached its closest point to Earth at a distance of 1.215 AU, making it visible to the naked eye.
NASA's Columbia Space Shuttle was successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center.
Karl Wallenda of The Flying Wallendas died after falling off a tightrope between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
New York became the first US court to allow blood test results to be used as evidence.
America built the first rocket to reach an altitude of 50 miles (80 km).