Making history at Penn

As America's oldest university, Penn has seen its share of history-making events, notable alumni and athletic records since its founding in 1740.

Here's a list of some interesting facts, firsts and alumni from Penn's past.

Did you know?

* Engineering School grads have contributed to the inventions of the radio camera, the infrared remote control for TV, the liquid crystal display in digital watches, automotive cruise control and the lunar land rover.

* College Hall is rumored to have inspired the mansion in The Addams Family, created by University alumnus Charles Addams.

Penn's claims to fame in sports:

* The Penn Relays are the largest track meet in the world.

* Franklin Field is the oldest two-tiered college stadium in use today and claims the nation's first stadium scoreboard.

* Penn played the first commercially-televised football game.

* The first African-American to win an Olympic gold medal was Penn graduate John Taylor.

* The Palestra has hosted more basketball games, more visiting teams and more NCAA Tournament games than any other athletic facility in the country.

* Penn alumnus Charles Diven, Class of 1936, is credited with inventing basketball's jump shot.

* The two most prestigious collegiate athletic awards -- the Heisman and Outland trophies -- are named after former Penn athletes John Heisman and John Outland.

Penn firsts:

* First university in the country

* First U.S. medical school

* First collegiate business school in the country

* First computer -- ENIAC

* First student union

* First psychology clinic

Famous Penn alumni:

* William Henry Harrison, U.S. President, 1791

* Ezra Pound, poet, 1903

* William Brennan, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice, 1928

* Walter Annenberg, newspaper magnate and former U.S. ambassador to Great Britain, 1931