September 19: Interesting Facts

1478 – Leonardo da Vinci completed the painting Lisa del Giocondo (known as the Mona Lisa).

1841 – The first international railway line was constructed between Strasbourg and Basel.

1849 – The first public laundry facility was established in Oakland, California.

1854 – Henry Meyer patented the sleeping car — a railway carriage equipped with beds.

1876 – In the United States, inventor Melville Bissell patented the first carpet sweeper.

1888 – The first beauty contest was held in Belgium.

1893 – New Zealand became the first country to grant women the right to vote in elections.

1928 – The ceremonial parade of Mickey Mouse began.

1982 – Scott Fahlman proposed using emoticons on the internet for the first time.