ON THIS DAY

ON THIS DAY

On this date in 1638, Swedish Colonists settle in what is now Wilmington, Delaware. Their influence is very obvious at the corner of Ya and You Betcha.

John Tyler, our country's 10th U.S. president, was born on this date in 1790. One of his more remarkable achievements: after office, he became a father again at age 70! If you're keeping track at home, between his first wife and his second wife, Tyler fathered 15 kids!

On this date in 1792, Sweden's King Gustav III died, nearly two days after he was mortally wounded during a masquerade party. That was the last year they played lawn darts with the masks on.

On this date in 1812, the very first White House Wedding took place. They lost the bride several times when she and her white gown stood up against the White House. Where'd she go?

In 1848, broken ice actually created a dam that stopped Niagara Falls. Suddenly, honeymooners found themselves with nothing to do.

Coca-Cola was created in 1886 -- mixed up over a fire in a backyard in Atlanta by a man named John Pemberton. John made Coca-Cola as a medicine to cure stomach aches, headaches and hangovers. Yes, it's true that cocaine was a very small ingredient of the beverage until Congress banned it in 1904.

• Then people started mixing it with rum and we were back to square one.
• 12 million gallons of Coke are consumed around the world each day.
• Coca-Cola was originally green in color.
• Iceland consumes more Coca-Cola per capita than any other.
• It costs Coca Cola more to buy its can than to make than the drink itself.
• Ten billion plastic Coca Cola containers distributed worldwide each year.
• The 3 most valuable brand names on earth are Marlboro, Coca-Cola and Budweiser, in that order.
• Coca-Cola was advertised as "Good To The Last Drop" in 1907 way before Maxwell House Coffee started using it.
• Did you know that cocaine was an ingredient in the drink until congress banned it in 1904? Coke was that close to having Charlie Sheen as a spokesperson.
• Ironically, it's now the cause of headaches as a sponsor for "American Idol."

On this date in 1943, World War II rationing of meat, butter and cheese began in the U.S.

• It was like an entire country going on a diet.
• With so much obesity in the U.S., maybe we should do that again.
• This, of course, inspired the sales of Spam as that's about as far away from meat as you can possibly get.

In 1968, over 3,000 hippies took over New York City's Grand Central Station. With that large of an un-washed crowd, it wasn't long until the place smelled like... well, Grand Central Station.

On this date in 1989, the movie "Rain Man" won the best picture Oscar. Wow, the Oscars were late back then. But, for the record, the show actually started in February.