In 1781, 44 Spanish settlers founded El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula, now known as Los Angeles.
In 1882, Thomas Edison flipped on the switch at the world’s first commercial electrical distribution plant, powering downtown Manhattan in New York City.
In 1888, George Eastman patented the shutter technology of his roll-film camera and registered the Kodak trademark.