KISS performed for the first time at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 18, 1977, as did their opening act. Who was it? Other notable events on this date in history: 1519 Hernán Cortés leaves Cuba for the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, with 11 ships and 500 men 1678 John Bunyan's Christian novel "The Pilgrim's Progress" is published in London by Nathaniel Ponder 1735 First opera performed in America, "Flora," in Charleston, South Carolina 1856 The American Party (Know-Nothings) convenes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to nominate its first Presidential candidate, former President Millard Fillmore. 1861 Confederate President Jefferson Davis inaugurated at Montgomery, Alabama (US Civil War) 1878 John Tunstall is murdered by outlaw Jessie Evans, sparking the Lincoln County War in Lincoln County, New Mexico. 1879 French Sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi is awarded a US patent for his design for the Statue of Liberty 1885 Mark Twain publishes "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" in the US 1901 Winston Churchill makes his maiden speech in the British House of Commons. 1909 Boston Red Sox trade Cy Young, at 41, to Cleveland Naps 1911 The first official flight with air mail takes place in Allahabad, British India, when Henri Pequet, a 23-year-old pilot, delivers 6,500 letters to Naini, about 10 km away. 1930 American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovers the dwarf planet Pluto 1954 The first Church of Scientology is established in Los Angeles, California 1965 Frank Gifford announces his retirement from football for broadcasting 1968 British guitarist David Gilmour joins progressive rock group Pink Floyd 1978 1st Iron Man Triathlon (swim, bike ride, marathon) held, Kona, Hawaii 1998 Andrea Bocelli makes his operatic debut as Rodolfo in "La bohème" at the Teatro Comunale in Cagliari