1999 - The Mars Polar Lander launches.
1967 - Jack Ruby, the man who shot suspected JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, dies in a Dallas hospital.
1951 - Dragnet is first broadcast on NBC-TV.
1938 - The March of Dimes campaign to stomp out polio is organized.
1870 - Brooklyn Bridge construction begins; completed May 24, 1883
This Day In Business
1957 - In Lancaster, PA - the first ever electric watch is introduced- eventually replacing mechanical wind up watches.
1987 - Aretha Franklin becomes the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1959 - Ice cold Alaska becomes the 49th state of the U.S.
1983 - Dallas Cowboy Tony Dorsett has a memorable 99 yard record setting touchdown run.
January 3rd Holiday
The Tenth Day of Christmas (Christianity) - A continuation of the celebration of Christmas, which lasts 12 days.
Today's Birthday Trivia
He played the character Nick Van Owen in the 1997 film The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Who is he?
Today's Birthday Horoscope
Learn about people born on this day by reading the January 3 Birthday Horoscope.
Famous Birthdays iPhone App
Are you an iPhone user? Get the fun and free Famous Birthdays iPhone app.