TV: Lost - Helpful Timeline

I watch Lost religiously, but haven't blogged about it yet.  Part of it is because there are already a billion blogs out there about Lost and a lot of what I have to say is just re-capping what EW's Doc Jensen has taught me or brought to my attention.   

However, recently I'm longing for more information sorting out the big picture of Lost or bringing me some more background to characters or ideas that pop-up.   So I've done some research to help me out and maybe help you, too!   Here is a timeline to help us sort through who has been on the island when. 

Before 1954, we're not sure what's been going on on the island... However, we can assume that "The Hostiles" led by Richard Alpert have been around for a while.  **Perhaps they are the ones who have built the four-toed statue?** They are considered the "native inhabitants" of the Island.   We will refer to these natives as "The Hostiles" until after the Purge, when they become "The Others."

1954: The United States Army arrives on the island to test-detonate a hydrogen bomb. The Hostiles, led by Richard Alpert, kill 18 of their soldiers.  Charles Widmore is one of the Hostiles. 

1950s – 1980s: Charles Widmore becomes the leader of the Hostiles. We know that he ruled for 30 years, and was then exiled due to the scheming of Ben. We also know that he has been searching for the Island for 20 years by 2005.

1970: The Dharma Initiative is created. Benjamin Linus and his Dad join. Daniel Faraday is working for them

1988: Rousseau and company have crashed on the island. They were part of a "Science Expedition" traveling from Tahiti. They picked up a transmission of a voice repeating the numbers and the team decided to change their course and investigate the source of the broadcast.

1992: “The Purge” occurs. The Hostiles launch a toxic gas attack on the Dharma Initiative. It is unknown whether or not Ben masterminded the Purge.  Now the Hostiles have become the Others.

2001: Desmond arrives on the Island.  Also in this year, Juliet arrives on the Island. 

Sometime around 2001, the drug smugglers’ plane crashes onto the island. It contained Yemi (Eko’s brother) and Goldie, as well as many Virgin Mary statues filled with heroin that they were smuggling out of Nigeria.

2003: Henry Gale crashes onto the island from a hot air balloon, attempting to cross the Pacific Ocean.

September 22 2004: Oceanic Flight 815 crashes onto the Island.

December 15, 2004: Naomi parachutes on the Island from the frieghter (the Kahana).

December 21, 2004: Daniel Faraday, Frank, Miles, and Charlotte all land on the Island from the Frieghter crew

December 24 2004: Sayid, Desmond, and Frank arrive on the frieghter

December 26, 2004: The weapon-toting mean guys from the freighter (the mercenaries) arrive on the Island. They are led by Keamy.

December 30, 2004: Desmond, Jack, Kate, Aaron, Sayid, Hurley, Sun and Frank are all on a helicopter headed to the frieghter. It crashes into the ocean. They are saved by Peny's lifeboat, the Searcher.

January 7, 2005: The Oceanic 6 Arrive on the shores of Sumba.

Juanary 13, 2005: The Oceanic 6 are taken to Honolulu and conduct a press conference.

“Early 2008” : Ajira Airways Flight 316 crashes and lands the passengers (including John Locke, Ben, Jack, Hurley, Kate, Frank and newcomers Ilana and Caesar) Where are Sun and Sayid? Not sure, yet.