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TIL that hydraulic fracturing (fracking), was often considered too expensive to realistically pursue until an engineer discovered more efficient methods in 1997. Although Nicholas Steinsberger saved his company and changed the industry, he did not receive so much as a bonus.

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kJ6x5 TIL The Apollo Mission Control Center at NASA Johnson Space Center was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1985. NASA and National Park Service restored it to the exact moment the 1969 Moon landing took place where controllers celebrated with their cigars
R7V77 TIL the biggest infrastructure project in the U.S. ($512 BILLION), the Interstate Highway System, was built and championed by Eisenhower in 1956, because he thought it was virtually impossible to travel US roads after experiencing the German Autobahn in WW2 during his experience as General.
epw1L TIL about millionaire Wellington Burt, who died in 1919 and deliberately held back his enormous fortune. His will denied any inheritance until 21 years after the death of his last surviving grandchild. The money sat in a trust for 92 years, until 12 descendants finally shared $110 million in 2011.
PybV TIL of math prodigy George Green, who operated a windmill for 20 years. Almost completely self-taught, he could not attend university until almost 40 years old. Green nonetheless graduated from Cambridge as one of the top math students; Einstein later said that he was 20 years ahead of his time.
16EBO TIL It was a Genoese mercenary Giovanni Giustiniani Longo (and a 700 strong force) who led the final defense of Constantinople against Mehmed II in 1453.