On September 16, 1893, the largest land run in U.S. history unfolded as over 100,000 white settlers surged into what is now northern Oklahoma to claim land. This event, known as the Cherokee Strip Land Run, opened over 8 million acres of land, purchased from the Cherokee Nation, for settlement. The sheer scale of this land rush marked a critical moment in America’s westward expansion, forever transforming the region’s landscape and demographics.
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In 1810, Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla urged his parishioners to take up arms against Spanish rule, igniting what would become the Mexican War of Independence. His impassioned call for liberty, known as the “Grito de Dolores,” resonated throughout Mexico, laying the foundation for the nation’s long and arduous struggle for independence from colonial oppression.
In 1908, General Motors was founded in Flint, Michigan, by William C. Durant. This moment marked the birth of a giant in the automotive industry, which would go on to revolutionize transportation and become a symbol of American industrial might.
In 1940, Samuel T. Rayburn of Texas was elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time. Rayburn’s leadership and influence over the next 17 years, across three terms, made him one of the most powerful and respected figures in American politics.
In 1966, the Metropolitan Opera opened its new opera house at Lincoln Center in New York City. The world premiere of Samuel Barber’s “Antony and Cleopatra” heralded a new era for the prestigious institution, cementing its role as a beacon of cultural excellence.
In 1974, President Gerald R. Ford signed a proclamation establishing a conditional amnesty program for Vietnam War deserters and draft evaders. This controversial program sought to heal the deep national divisions caused by the war, offering a path to reintegration for those who had fled or refused military service.
In 1982, a massacre of horrific proportions began in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in west Beirut, where over 1,300 Palestinian men, women, and children were brutally killed by Christian Phalange militiamen. This atrocity shocked the international community, casting a dark shadow over the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.
In 2007, O.J. Simpson was arrested in connection with an armed robbery of sports memorabilia collectors in Las Vegas. Simpson, already infamous from his earlier murder trial, was later convicted of kidnapping and armed robbery, receiving a sentence of nine to 33 years in prison. He was released in 2017 after serving nine years.
In 2013, the Washington Navy Yard was the site of a deadly shooting spree by Aaron Alexis, a former U.S. Navy reservist. Alexis killed 12 people before being shot dead by police, leaving the nation grappling with yet another tragic mass shooting.
In 2018, Hurricane Florence unleashed catastrophic flooding across the Carolinas, leaving at least 17 people dead. The storm’s relentless rain and flooding caused widespread destruction, and its impact lingered for months as communities struggled to rebuild in the wake of its devastation.
Today in History: December 20
A Look Back At Today, December 20
The Louisiana Purchase was completed.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” premiered at the Globe Theater.
The United States launched Operation Just Cause.
The United States Space Force was established.
Today in History: December 19
Today in History: December 19
In 1777, General George Washington led an army of more than 12,000 soldiers to Valley Forge.
In 1972, Apollo 17 splashed down in the Pacific, concluding the Apollo program.
In 2011, North Korean announced the death of Kim Jong Il and proclaimed Kim Jong Un as the leader.
In 2022, the House Jan. 6 Committee urged the Justice Department to bring criminal charges against the previous president
Today in History: December 18
Today in History: December 18
In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, was proclaimed in effect.
In 1892, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” publicly premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia; although now considered a classic, it received a generally negative reception from critics.
In 1957, the Shippingport Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania, the first nuclear facility to generate electricity in the United States, went on line. (It was taken out of service in 1982.)
In 2011, the last convoy of heavily armored U.S. troops left Iraq, crossing into Kuwait in darkness in the final moments of a nearly nine-year war.
Today in History: December 17
Today in History: December 17
In 1903 The Wright brothers’ flight redefined the possibilities of travel and opened the skies to human exploration.
In 1933 The first NFL championship laid the foundation for professional football’s evolution into a national pastime.
In 1989 “The Simpsons” redefined animated television, blending humor with social commentary to leave an indelible mark on entertainment.
In 1992 NAFTA reshaped North American trade, fostering economic ties while sparking debates on globalization.
In 2014 The U.S.-Cuba rapprochement signaled a pivotal moment in the post-Cold War world, rekindling hopes for reconciliation.
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