Today in History - September 8

First Lady Laura Bush and Librarian of Congress James Billington opened the first National Book Festival in a brief public ceremony on the Neptune Plaza of the Library of Congress at 9:30am on Saturday, September 8, 2001.  Continue reading.

On September 8, 1900, hurricane winds estimated at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour ripped across the Texas coastline on the Gulf of Mexico, killing more than 6,000 people and decimating the city of Galveston.  Continue reading.

The American Federation of Labor granted a charter to the Quarry Workers' International Union of North America, headquartered in Barre, Vermont, on September 8, 1903.  Continue reading.

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