January can be a cold and dreary month, but some pretty amazing things have happened in January during our country's brief existence.
January 1, 1892 - Ellis Island in New York Harbor opened. Over 20 million new arrivals to America were processed until its closing in 1954.
January 11, 1908, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt declares the Grand Canyon in Arizona a national monument.
January 13, 1930, the first Mickey Mouse comic strip appeared in newspapers.
The month of January does have a tragedy in its history.
January 28, 1986 - The U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 74 seconds into its flight, killing seven persons, including Christa McAuliffe, a teacher who was to be the first ordinary citizen in space.
January 28, 1986 - The U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 74 seconds into its flight, killing seven persons, including Christa McAuliffe, a teacher who was to be the first ordinary citizen in space.
