1903: The Wright Brothers’ First Powered Flight
On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the first successful manned, powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Their experimental aircraft, the Wright Flyer, made four flights, with the longest lasting 59 seconds and covering 852 feet. This milestone marked the dawn of aviation, revolutionizing transportation and human connectivity. The Wright Flyer is now preserved in the Smithsonian Institution, symbolizing the persistence of human ingenuity.
1933: The First NFL Championship Game
On December 17, 1933, the Chicago Bears defeated the New York Giants, 23-21, in the inaugural National Football League (NFL) championship game at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. This game marked the beginning of the NFL’s rise to becoming a cornerstone of American sports culture. Notably, the game introduced the forward pass as a key strategic element, a change that would forever shape football.
1989: The Debut of ‘The Simpsons’
On December 17, 1989, “The Simpsons” made its television debut, forever altering the landscape of animated programming. The satirical show, created by Matt Groening, offered a sharp critique of American family life and culture, gaining widespread acclaim. As the longest-running primetime scripted series in U.S. history, it has influenced pop culture and inspired generations of animators.
1992: The Signing of NAFTA
On December 17, 1992, U.S. President George H.W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in separate ceremonies. The agreement eliminated most trade barriers between the three nations, creating one of the largest free-trade zones in the world. While controversial, NAFTA significantly boosted trade volumes and economic integration across North America.
2014: U.S.-Cuba Diplomatic Relations Restored
On December 17, 2014, the United States and Cuba announced the restoration of diplomatic relations after over five decades of hostility. The historic agreement, brokered with the assistance of Pope Francis, ended one of the last remnants of the Cold War. The reopening of embassies marked a turning point in U.S.-Cuban relations, though political and economic challenges remain.
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 16
Today in History: December 16
On Dec. 16, 1773, the Boston Tea Party took place, as American colonists boarded a British ship, and dumped more than 300 chests of tea into Boston Harbor, to protest tea taxes.
In 1907, 16 U S Navy battleships, known as the Great White Fleet, set sail on a 14-month, round-the-world voyage to showcase America’s growing naval strength, and signal its emergence as a global power.
In 1944, the World War II Battle of the Bulge began as German forces launched a surprise attack against Allied forces through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxembourg.
In the year 2000, President-elect George W Bush selected Colin Powell to become the first Black secretary of state.
In 2014, The Peshawar school massacre occurred when Taliban gunmen stormed a military-run school in the northwestern Pakistan city of Peshawar, killing at least 148 people, including more than 130 schoolchildren.
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