1) On February 11, 1847, inventor Thomas Edison was born in Milan, Ohio. He would go on to make some of his most significant discoveries and inventions in New York, including the electric light bulb and the phonograph.

2) In 1929, the "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" occurred in Chicago, but New York City played a role in the investigation. Police raided an apartment in the Bronx that had been used as a "safe house" by suspects in the massacre, leading to the arrest and trial of several men.

3) February 11, 1964, marked the first public appearance of the Beatles in the United States, when they performed on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Though the performance took place in New York City, it was broadcast live across the country and is often credited with launching the "British Invasion" of American music.

4) On February 11, 1970, the NYC Transit Authority announced it was ending the policy of allowing men to sit with their legs apart on subway seats, in an effort to create more space for other passengers.

5) In 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison in South Africa after 27 years, and he would eventually visit New York City to speak at the United Nations General Assembly. Mandela's visit to New York was greeted with tremendous enthusiasm and support, and he would later credit the city and its people with helping to bring about the end of apartheid.