This Day, That Year – December 8

The Clifton Suspension Bridge, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was opened in Bristol, England on this day in 1864.

Did you know that:

• Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin, was born on this day in 1765
• Georges Melies, the first filmmaker to film a fictional story, was born on this day in 1861
• Ian Somerhalder is an American actor, model, activist and director born on this day in 1978