Today in History, June 19: Statue of Liberty, Nickelodeons, and NASCAR

1856—The first-ever Republican National Convention ends in Philadelphia. The nominees were John Frémont for president and William Dayton for vice president.

1885—The 151-foot-all Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, is placed at Bedloe's Island (later Liberty Island) in New York Harbor.

1905—The first nickelodeon theater opens in Pittsburgh. Admission for the feature The Great Train Robbery cost 5 cents.

1949—The first official NASCAR Grand National stock car race takes place in Charlotte, N.C. Jim Roper wins.

1953—Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, convicted on espionage charges for giving atomic secrets to the Soviet Union, are executed in New York.