◆ On this day

February 2

6 sourced moments from February 2 in history: New Amsterdam Becomes a City (1653); Alexander Selkirk was rescued in 1709 after four years alone; Serum run to Nome reaches Alaska (1925), plus 3 more.

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6 things happened on February 2

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2024 Language & Communication · Writing Systems

Easter Island May Have Invented Writing From Scratch

A wooden tablet bearing Easter Island's mysterious Rongorongo glyphs radiocarbon-dated to the 1490s, two centuries before any European set foot there.

1971 Earth & Climate · Ecosystems

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is signed

In a small Iranian resort town, delegates from 18 nations agreed the first global treaty devoted to saving the planet's wetlands.

1943 History · War & Conflict

The German Sixth Army Surrenders at Stalingrad

After months trapped in a frozen city, Hitler's encircled Sixth Army laid down its arms — and the tide of the war turned for good.

1925 History · Modern

Serum run to Nome reaches Alaska

Twenty mushers and 150 dogs ran antitoxin across frozen Alaska in a relay against a diphtheria outbreak.

1709 History · Modern

Alexander Selkirk was rescued in 1709 after four years alone

The real-life Robinson Crusoe chose to be marooned, outlived the ship he refused to sail on, and left archaeologists a clue.

1653 Geography · Cities

New Amsterdam Becomes a City

On a Dutch holy day in 1653, a tiny fur-trading post at Manhattan's tip won the charter that would one day make it New York.