146 BCE The Punic Wars concluded, establishing Rome as the dominant power over Carthage in the Western Mediterranean. 1852 The Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, welcomed the public for the first time. 1869 Australia saw the discovery of the “Welcome Stranger,” the largest alluvial gold nugget ever found. 1909 Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland introduced Bakelite, … Continue reading This Day In History