Tuesday, the Dow closed 49.44 points (0.27%) higher at 18,053.60, the NASDAQ fell 19.69 points (0.40%) to 4,940.33, and the S&P 500 was up 6.46 points (0.31%) at 2,100.80. The Russell 2000 was virtually unchanged at 1,140.23, and the Wilshire 5000 gained 94.59 points (0.44%) to finish at 21,681.65.

On the NYSE, 3.1 billion shares traded with advancing issues outnumbering declining issues 2 to 1. On the NASDAQ, 2.7 billion shares changed hands, with a slight lead for advancers.

ON THIS DATE: In 1775, American troops began the siege of British-held Boston. In 1832, Hot Springs National Park was established by an act of the U.S. Congress. It was the first national park in the U.S. In 1836, Congress created the U.S. territory of Wisconsin. In 1861, Robert E. Lee resigned from the U.S. Army. In 1902, scientists Marie and Pierre Curie isolated the radioactive element radium. In 1912, Fenway Park opened as the home of the Boston Red Sox. In 1916, Chicago’s Wrigley Field held its first Cubs game with the first National League game at the ballpark. In 1940, the first electron microscope was demonstrated by RCA. In 1945, during World War II, Allied forces took control of the German cities of Nuremberg and Stuttgart. In 1953, Operation Little Switch began in Korea. It was the exchange of sick and wounded prisoners of war. Thirty Americans were freed. In 1961, the FCC approved FM stereo broadcasting. In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the use of busing to achieve racial desegregation in schools. In 1972, the manned lunar module from Apollo 16 landed on the moon. In 1988, the U.S. Air Force’s Stealth (B-2 bomber) was officially unveiled. In 1989, scientists announced the successful testing of high-definition TV. In 1999, Jane Seymour received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.