Today in History: November 21, 2024
As we mark November 21, the 326th day of 2024, we reflect on significant historical events that occurred on this date.
On this day in 1980, a devastating fire at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas claimed the lives of 85 individuals, primarily due to smoke inhalation. The tragedy remains one of the deadliest hotel fires in U.S. history.
In a stark contrast of events, November 21, 1920, witnessed “Bloody Sunday” in Ireland, where the Irish Republican Army executed 14 suspected British intelligence officers in Dublin. The British response was swift and brutal, with forces firing upon civilians at a soccer match, resulting in another 14 deaths.
Fast-forwarding to 1964, New York City celebrated the opening of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, which proudly held the title of the longest suspension bridge in the world at that time.
In popular culture, 1980 is noted for garnering an audience of 83 million as viewers tuned in to CBS’s “Dallas” to discover the identity of J.R. Ewing’s assailant, a reveal that stunned fans when it was unveiled as his sister-in-law.
Additionally, notable espionage events marked this day in history: Jonathan Jay Pollard was arrested in 1985 for spying for Israel, and in 1990, financier Michael R. Milken received a 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to six felony counts.
In 2017, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe resigned at the age of 93 amidst military pressure and impeachment threats. More recently, in 2022, NASA’s Orion capsule made headlines as it reached the moon, representing a historic return to lunar exploration.
On this date, we also celebrate the birthdays of numerous distinguished individuals including actor Marlo Thomas, basketball legend Earl Monroe, and singer Björk.
Source
Photo credit www.sun-sentinel.com
