Neon lighting was first demonstrated at the Paris Motor Show by Georges Claude.
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The Grand Union Flag flew for the first time with the commissioning of the USS Alfred.
Illinois became the 21st state to join the United States of America.
NASA lost radio contact with the Mars Polar Lander moments before the spacecraft entered the Martian atmosphere.
HAL Laboratory's Super Smash Bros. Melee was released by Nintendo for the GameCube.
The 7-year old Ryan of 'Ryan Toysreview' was announced as the year's highest-paid YouTube star earning $22 million.
