This week in history
20 anniversaries falling this week, from 1600 to 2000. Five minutes each, with the sources left in plain sight.
1999History
Panama Takes Full Control of the Canal
Panama assumed full control of the Panama Canal on December 31, 1999, under the treaty arrangements negotiated in 1977.
1968
HistoryThe Tu-144 Makes Its First FlightThe Tupolev Tu-144 made its first flight on December 31, 1968.
1907HistoryThe First Times Square New Year's Ball DropsThe first illuminated New Year's ball descended in Times Square on the night of December 31, 1907, welcoming 1908.
More from this week
- 1879Edison Publicly Demonstrates Electric Lighting at Menlo ParkHistory · December 31Thomas Edison's Menlo Park laboratory held a public demonstration of electric lighting on December 31, 1879.
- 1600The East India Company Receives Its CharterHistory · December 31Queen Elizabeth I granted a charter to the East India Company on December 31, 1600.
- 2000Cassini Flies Past JupiterHistory · December 30Cassini made its closest approach to Jupiter on December 30, 2000, while traveling toward Saturn.
- 1922The Soviet Union Is EstablishedHistory · December 30The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was established on December 30, 1922, through the founding congress and union agreement.
- 1903The Iroquois Theatre FireHistory · December 30A fire swept through Chicago's Iroquois Theatre on December 30, 1903, during a matinee performance.
- 1853The Gadsden Purchase Treaty Is SignedHistory · December 30American and Mexican representatives signed the initial Gadsden Purchase treaty on December 30, 1853.
- 1997Hong Kong Begins a Mass Poultry Cull Against Bird FluHistory · December 29Hong Kong began a mass poultry cull on December 29, 1997, in response to human H5N1 avian-influenza infections.
- 1937Ireland's Constitution Comes Into ForceHistory · December 29Ireland's new Constitution came into force on December 29, 1937.
- 1845Texas Enters the United StatesHistory · December 29Texas entered the United States as a state on December 29, 1845.
- 1981The First American IVF Baby Is BornHistory · December 28Elizabeth Carr was born in Virginia on December 28, 1981, becoming the first baby born in the United States through in vitro fertilization.
- 1973The Endangered Species Act Is SignedHistory · December 28President Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act on December 28, 1973.
- 1908The Messina EarthquakeHistory · December 28A devastating earthquake struck the Messina Strait region on December 28, 1908.
- 1895The Lumière Cinématographe Is Shown to a Paying Paris AudienceHistory · December 28The Lumière brothers presented films to a paying audience in Paris on December 28, 1895, using the Cinématographe.
- 1612Galileo Records Neptune Without Recognizing a PlanetHistory · December 28Galileo recorded an object now identified as Neptune on December 28, 1612, while observing Jupiter's surroundings.
- 1979Soviet Forces Attack the Presidential Palace in KabulHistory · December 27Soviet forces attacked the Tajbeg Palace in Kabul on December 27, 1979.
- 1945The IMF's Articles of Agreement Enter Into ForceHistory · December 27The International Monetary Fund's Articles of Agreement entered into force on December 27, 1945.
- 1932Radio City Music Hall OpensHistory · December 27Radio City Music Hall opened in New York on December 27, 1932.