On August 17, 1870, Esther Morris became the first woman magistrate in America when she was appointed Justice of the Peace for South Pass City, Wyoming.
Learn more about Esther Morris.

On August 17, 2005, Israel began removing settlers from certain occupied territories in the West Bank. The move began Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan.
Learn more about the Israeli disengagement plan from the Washington Post.