The way it was: Today in history
Throwback Thursday: A look back at events in history on February 11, including Nelson Mandela's release from prison after 27 years in 1990, Whitney Houston's death in 2012 and Thomas Edison's birthday.
In this photo, Inventor Thomas A. Edison with Mina Miller Edison on the lawn of Seminole Lodge, his Fort Myers, Florida estate, while being interviewed on his 84th birthday on Feb. 11, 1931.
Josephine Baker - Ziegfeld Follies
Performer Josephine Baker strikes a pose during her Ziegfeld Follies performance of "The Conga" on the Winter Garden Theater stage in New York, February 11, 1936.
Her appearance in Broadway's "Going to Town" was the first since she left the United States ten years earlier.
Testing gas masks in Britain
Workers test gas masks at at the Siebe-Gorman Works, in London, February 11, 1937, as the demand from home and overseas increases for the precautionary measures against air raids.
Mahatma Gandhi's funeral
Indians sit on the floor to pray and sing the favorite hymns of Mohandas K. Gandhi in the flower-filled funeral car of the assassinated Indian leader, in New Delhi, February 11, 1948.
The car, containing the urn with Gandhi's ashes, was en route to Allahabad, India, where the ashes were dispersed the next day in the confluence of the Ganges and Jumna Rivers.
Funeral for King George VI
Queen Elizabeth II, left, stands with her grandmother Queen Mary, center, and her mother, Queen Elizabeth, at the entrance to London's Westminster Hall as her father's coffin arrives to lie in state on February 11, 1952.
Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne February 6, upon the death of her father, King George VI. Britain held a 41-gun salute.
Twin Towers under construction
Construction continues on the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, New York City, on February 11, 1971.
The 1350-foot north tower building, left, now the world's tallest building, overlooks St. Paul's church in the foreground.
Margaret Thatcher elected
Margaret Thatcher, newly elected leader of Britain's opposition Conservative Party, addresses newsmen at a press conference in London on February 11, 1975.
She is the first woman ever to be elected party leader. Thatcher became the first British woman prime minister when the Tories came to power in 1979 in the next general Election.
Larry Flynt in jail
Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt drapes his leg over the arm of a chair while talking with reporters in the Hamilton County Jail in Cincinnati, Ohio, February 11, 1977.
After a planned news conference was cancelled, Flynt talked with small groups of reporters in short interviews inside the jail, where he has been since his conviction on charges for pandering obscenity for selling "Hustler" magazine in Cincinnati. He served six day sof a 7-25-year sentence before being released on appeal. The conviction was later overturned in 1979.
Anwar Sadat & Shimon Peres
President Anwar Sadat of Egypt (R) and Israeli opposition leader Shimon Peres meeting Salzburg, Vienna on February 11, 1978.
Anatoli Sharansky released
The Soviet dissident Anatoli Sharansky (L) is seen on February 11, 1986 accompanied by U.S. ambassador Richard Burt during a major East-West prisoner exchange which took place on the Glienicke Bridge between Potsdam, East Germany and West Berlin.
He was jailed for 13 years by a Moscow court in 1978 on spying charges, provoking a worldwide storm of protest.
Nelson Mandela released from prison
South African National Congress (ANC) President Nelson Mandela (c) and his then-wife Winnie raise their fists in Paarl, South Africa on February 11, 1990 to salute the cheering crowd upon Mandela's release from Victor Verster prison after 27 years.
Lufthansa highjacking
FBI Swat Team members swarm up the stairs into Lufthansa flight 592 after a lone hijacker surrendered February 11, 1993.
The plane was hijacked enroute to Cairo from Frankfurt.
Space Shuttle Discovery
The Space Shuttle Discovery glides in for an early morning landing February 11, 1994 on Kennedy Space Center's runway 15.
The Discovery crew completed an eight-day international science mission that included a fly-around of the Russian Space Station MIR and a space-walk.
Space Shuttle Discovery crew
The crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery (Frt R to L) Commander Ken Bowersox, Pilot Scot Horowitz, Steve Smith, (Top L to R) Mark Lee, Greg Harbaugh, Joe Tanner and Steve Hawley wave February 11, 1997 as they leave the Astronaut Quarter's at Kennedy Space Center for the ride to Launch Pad 39-A. The Discovery and her seven-man crew are scheduled for a ten day mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
George W. Bush rolls oranges
Republican presidential hopeful Texas Governor George W. Bush unloads a fast pitch as he rolls oranges down the aisle towards the media of his campaign plane late February 11, 2000 over South Carolina en route to Columbia after a campaign stop in Charleston.
Al Gore campaigning
Democratic presidential hopeful and Vice President Al Gore (C) attends a reception for California Governor Gray Davis (R) at the California Democratic Party State Convention late February 11, 2000 in San Jose, CA.
Gore is campaigning in California for the March 7, 2000 Democratic primary there.
Mubarak resigns
Egyptians celebrate after President Hosni Mubarak resigned and handed power to the military in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Feb. 11, 2011.
Egypt exploded with joy, tears, and relief after pro-democracy protesters brought down President Hosni Mubarak with a momentous march on his palaces and state TV.
Mubarak, who until the end seemed unable to grasp the depth of resentment over his three decades of authoritarian rule, finally resigned and handed power to the military.
Whitney Houston
The famous Apollo Theatre pays homage to pop superstar Whitney Houston in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City upon news of her death on February 11, 2012.
Houston was found dead in a bathtub in her suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California less than 24 hours before the 2012 Grammy Awards at the age of 48. Investigators determined it was by accidental drowning with cocaine and heart disease as factors.