Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 February 4

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Today's featured article
Erie is an industrial city on the shore of Lake Erie and the regional hub of northwestern Pennsylvania. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth largest city (after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Allentown), with a population of 104,000. Erie's Metropolitan Area consists of approximately 280,000 residents and an Urbanized Area population of approximately 195,000. The city is the seat of government for Erie County. Erie is in proximity to Cleveland, Ohio; Buffalo, New York; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Once teeming with heavy industry, Erie's manufacturing sector remains prominent in the local economy, though healthcare, higher education, and tourism are emerging as greater economic drivers. More than four million people each year visit Presque Isle State Park, for water recreation, and a new casino named for the state park is growing in popularity. Erie is known as the Flagship City because of the presence of Oliver Hazard Perry's flagship Niagara. The city has also been called the Gem City because of the "sparkling" lake. Erie won the All-America City Award in 1972. (more...) Recently featured: Cottingley Fairies – Lord of the Universe – Common Firecrest Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that over 300 mosaic floors (example pictured) were discovered during archaeological excavations of Antioch between 1932 and 1939? ... that the railway in Alderney is the only working railway in the Channel Islands, and draws a number of visitors to the island every year? ... that the American Society of Magazine Editors book The Best American Magazine Writing 2007 features investigative journalism about the Beslan school hostage crisis and survivors of Agent Orange? ... that English comedy duo Ant & Dec won 'Most Popular Entertainment Presenter' for the tenth year in a row at the 16th National Television Awards? ... that the Vinegar Hill Historic District in Bloomington, Indiana, is distinguished by its lawn furniture? ... that the Cornelius XBG-3 "bomb glider", an early guided missile designed in 1942, would have used a forward-swept wing? ... that, in the early twentieth century, Buttrills was the centre of education in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
IANA allocates the last free blocks of IPv4 internet addresses to the regional Internet registries. Thousands of people protest in Yemen, one day after President Ali Abdullah Saleh (pictured) announces he will step down in 2013. NASA's Kepler mission releases preliminary results that indicate over 1,200 candidate extrasolar planets, 54 of which are located in the habitable zone. Cyclone Yasi, a Category 5 cyclone, makes landfall in northern Queensland, Australia. Amid political unrest in Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak announces he will not seek re-election in September. Marouf al-Bakhit is appointed Prime Minister of Jordan in a cabinet reshuffle by King Abdullah II, following mass protests. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
February 4: Day of the Armed Struggle (Angola, 1961) 1859 – German scholar Constantin von Tischendorf (pictured) rediscovered the Codex Sinaiticus, a 4th century uncial manuscript of the Greek Bible, in Saint Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt. 1899 – The Philippine–American War opened when an American soldier, under orders to keep insurgents away from his unit's encampment, fired upon a Filipino soldier in Manila. 1974 – The Provisional Irish Republican Army bombed a motor coach carrying off-duty British Armed Forces personnel and their family members, killing twelve and wounding fifty more. 1992 – Venezuelan Army Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Chávez failed in his attempt to overthrow the government of Carlos Andrés Pérez. 1999 – The Panamanian-flagged freighter New Carissa ran aground near Coos Bay, Oregon, US, causing one of the worst oil spills in Oregon history. More anniversaries: February 3 – February 4 – February 5 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now February 4 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A late 1930s Federal Art Project poster advertising the bobsled track in Lake Placid, New York, United States, which had been used in the 1932 Winter Olympics. The village is located in the Adirondack Mountains and is known as a tourist destination for winter sports, mountain climbing, and golf. It is one of the three places to have twice hosted the Winter Olympic Games and the first location in North America to host two Olympic games.

Restoration: Lise Broer

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