August 17
1807
Robert Fulton's steamboat, the Clermont, began its trip up the Hudson River to Albany.
1863
Fort Sumter, S.C. was bombarded by Union ships during the Civil War.
1896
Prospectors found gold in Alaska, a discovery that set off the Klondike gold rush.
1964
The Kinks "You Really Got Me" was released.
1969
After three days, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in New York came to an end.
1978
The first successful trans-Atlantic balloon flight landed outside of Paris.
Birthdays
89 Maureen O'Hara Actress
66 Robert De Niro Actor
60 Sib Hashian Rock musician (Boston)
57 Guillermo Vilas Tennis Hall of Famer
52 Schlep Cigar Asylum Inmate
51 Belinda Carlisle Singer (The Go-Gos)
49 Sean Penn Actor and director
47 Gilby Clarke Rock musician (ex-GNR)
46 Jon Gruden Football coach, sportscaster
40 Donnie Wahlberg Actor, singer
39 Jim Courier Tennis Hall of Famer
38 Jorge Posada Baseball player (New York Yankees)
37 Don Fernando Cigar Asylum Inmate
26 Dustin Pedroia Baseball player (Boston Red Sox)
25 RX2010 Cigar Asylum Inmate
49 Davy Crockett 8/17/1786 - 3/6/1836 American frontiersman and politician
88 Mae West 8/17/1893 - 11/22/1980 American stage and screen actress