Today in History - October 13

CONSTRUCTION OF THE WHITE HOUSE BEGINS-1792

The cornerstone of the White House was laid on October 13, 1792.

In a proclamation issued on January 24, 1791, President George Washington chose the White House’s location — now at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

The office and residence of the President of the United States was designed by Irish architect James Hoban. The initial construction took place over a period of eight years, at a reported cost of $232,371.83 (equal to $3,279,177 today). Constructed of white-gray sandstone that contrasted sharply with the red brick used in nearby buildings. The main residence, as well as foundations of the house, were built largely by enslaved and free African-American laborers, as well as employed Europeans.

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President John Adams became the first president to occupy the building on November 1, 1800. Adams wrote to his wife:

I pray Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.

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President’s House, also known as the Executive Mansion, was called the White House as early as 1812. President Theodore Roosevelt officially adopted the term in 1901.

The modern White House complex includes the Executive Residence, the West Wing, the East Wing, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the former State Department, which now houses offices for the President's staff and the Vice president.

CHILEAN MINERS RESCUED-2010

Its 7years after a mine collapsed in the Atacama region of northern Chile on Aug. 5, 2010, trapping the miners deep underground.

A rescue operation began October 13, 2010, and ended 22.5 hours later as a worldwide audience monitored every development.

The last of the miners trapped in the San José copper–gold mine were rescued after 69 days putting an end to the longest underground entrapment in history. Many of the emerging miners appeared energetic and healthy, one pounding his fist in the air .

Here is a look back at the emotional events during the rescue.

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The second miner (Mario Sepulveda) to leave the San Jose mine pounding his fist in the air

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Miner Osman Araya is welcomed by his wife Angelica ... this picture makes me cry

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Trapped miners

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Pictures of all the rescued miners

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THE MIRACLE OF THE SUN-1917

The Miracle of the Sun took place on October 13, 1917, where a large crowd gathered near Fátima, Portugal, in response to a prophecy made by three shepherd children that the Virgin Mary, called Our Lady of Fatima, would appear and perform miracles on that date.

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The story of a famous miracle began in May 1917, when the children said they had met the Virgin Mary on their way home to look after a herd of sheep. The oldest of the girls, Lucia, was the only one talking to her, and Mary told the children that she would reappear on the thirteenth day of the next six months. She then disappeared.

This is quite the claim, so when the day came the field was filled with tens of thousands of people: believers, skeptics, journalists, and even photographers. And then it happened: the Sun started spinning, then zigzagged around the sky, and this gave off brilliant colors.