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.