1506
Religion
Construction of St. Peter's Basilica Begins
Pope Julius II laid the foundation stone for the new St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The massive church took over 100 years to complete and remains one of the world's largest.
On This Day in History
1775
Politics
Paul Revere's Midnight Ride
Paul Revere rode from Boston to Lexington to warn colonial leaders that British soldiers were approaching. His ride, immortalized by Longfellow's poem, helped alert the colonial militia.
1906
Disaster
San Francisco Earthquake
A massive earthquake estimated at magnitude 7.9 struck San Francisco, followed by devastating fires. The disaster killed over 3,000 people and destroyed 80% of the city.
1942
War & Conflict
Doolittle Raid on Tokyo
Sixteen B-25 bombers launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet to bomb Tokyo and other Japanese cities. The daring raid, led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, boosted American morale after Pearl Harbor.
1946
Politics
League of Nations Dissolves
The League of Nations officially dissolved, transferring its assets and responsibilities to the United Nations. The League had failed to prevent World War II.
1955
Science
Albert Einstein Dies
Albert Einstein died in Princeton, New Jersey, at age 76. The physicist who revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and energy had refused surgery for an abdominal aneurysm.
1983
War & Conflict
U.S. Embassy in Beirut Bombed
A suicide bomber drove a truck loaded with explosives into the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 63 people. The attack was one of the deadliest against a U.S. diplomatic mission.