1174
Culture
Leaning Tower of Pisa Construction Disrupted
Construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was interrupted by warfare. The tower had already begun tilting due to soft ground, and construction would span nearly 200 years.
On This Day in History
1613
Culture
Globe Theatre Burns Down
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London was destroyed by fire during a performance of Henry VIII. A cannon fired during the play ignited the thatched roof.
1767
Politics
Townshend Acts Enacted
The British Parliament passed the Townshend Acts, placing duties on goods imported to the American colonies. Colonial protests against the acts intensified the push toward revolution.
1880
Politics
France Annexes Tahiti
France formally annexed Tahiti, making it a French colony. The island had been a French protectorate since 1842.
1956
Invention
Federal Aid Highway Act Signed
President Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act, creating the Interstate Highway System. The 41,000-mile network transformed American transportation and development.
1995
Space
Space Shuttle Atlantis Docks with Mir
The Space Shuttle Atlantis docked with the Russian space station Mir for the first time. The mission marked the beginning of cooperative space operations between the U.S. and Russia.
2007
Invention
First iPhone Released
Apple released the first iPhone, fundamentally changing the mobile phone industry. Long lines formed at Apple stores as customers rushed to buy the revolutionary device.