1776: The Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
1894: The Republic of Hawaii was proclaimed. Hawaii was annexed by the United States four years later.
1910: In what was billed as ''The Fight of the Century,'' black world heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson defeated white former champ James J. Jeffries in Reno, Nev.
1939: Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees delivered his famous farewell speech in which he called himself ''the luckiest man on the face of the earth.''
1964: Entertainment opportunities for July 4 included dances at Chelsea Hall, Tacoma Park Ballroom, Richmond Ballroom and Craven's Corner.
1980: A bull and cow moose were spotted in the marshes of Sand Lake; Game Fish and Park officials thought the pair had strayed from a larger herd in Minnesota.
Source: Dacotah Prairie Museum and The Associated Press
