Today in History: Wednesday, October 24, 2012

On Oct. 24, 1962, the U.S. blockade of Cuba during the missile crisis began under a proclamation signed by President John F. Kennedy.

1648 The Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years' War and, effectively, the Holy Roman Empire.

1861 The first transcontinental telegraph message was sent from California to President Abraham Lincoln.

1931 The George Washington Bridge connecting New York and New Jersey was dedicated.

1940 The 40-hour work week went into effect in the United States.

1945 The United Nations charter took effect.

1952 Republican presidential candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower declared, "I shall go to Korea" as he promised to end the conflict.

1992 The Toronto Blue Jays became the first team outside the United States to win a World Series as they defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-3 in Game 6.

2002 Authorities arrested Army veteran John Allen Muhammad and teenager Lee Boyd Malvo in connection with the Washington-area sniper attacks. (Muhammad was later sentenced to death, Malvo to life in prison.)

2003 The era of supersonic jet travel came to an end as three British Airways Concordes landed at London's Heathrow Airport.

2005 Civil rights activist Rosa Parks died at age 92.

2007 Facebook Inc. sold a 1.6 percent stake to Microsoft Corp. for $240 million, spurning a competing offer from Google Inc.