Belgium became the second country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, following the Netherlands. The law marked a major step forward in LGBTQ+ rights in Europe and globally.
📍 Brussels, Belgium
Timothy McVeigh carried out a truck bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people. It was the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history at the time.
📍 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
The 51-day standoff between the FBI and the Branch Davidians cult in Waco, Texas, ended in a fire during a federal assault on the compound, resulting in the deaths of 76 people, including leader David Koresh.
📍 Waco, Texas, United States
Following the federal civil rights trial, two LAPD officers were convicted for violating Rodney King’s rights, while two others were acquitted. The verdict reignited national conversations about police brutality and racial justice.
📍 Los Angeles, California, United States
Ruth Reichl began her role as restaurant critic for The New York Times, reshaping food journalism with her vivid storytelling, disguises, and populist approach. Her work influenced modern culinary critique worldwide.
📍 New York City, United States
India successfully launched IRS-1B, its second Earth observation satellite, significantly enhancing its capability in agriculture, forestry, and natural resource monitoring. The launch strengthened India’s position in space technology.
📍 Sriharikota, India
Representatives of the remaining Warsaw Pact nations signed the protocol to officially dissolve the military alliance formed during the Cold War. The act marked the end of Soviet military dominance in Eastern Europe.
📍 Budapest, Hungary
The Eurovision Song Contest was held in Eastern Europe for the first time, hosted by Yugoslavia in Zagreb. It reflected political changes and the growing inclusivity of pan-European culture at the Cold War’s end.
📍 Zagreb, Yugoslavia (now Croatia)
NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia successfully landed at Edwards Air Force Base, completing the first-ever orbital mission by a reusable spacecraft. The mission, STS-1, marked the beginning of a new era in spaceflight.
📍 Edwards Air Force Base, California, United States
Rwanda was officially admitted to the United Nations, gaining international recognition shortly before declaring independence from Belgium. This marked a key milestone in the decolonization of Africa.
📍 New York City, United States
Following the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, Fidel Castro officially declared Cuba a socialist state and aligned the country with the Soviet Union, cementing Cuba's role in Cold War geopolitics.
📍 Havana, Cuba
Hollywood actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III in Monaco in a globally televised event, turning her into a princess and symbol of transatlantic glamour. Their union became one of the most iconic royal weddings of the 20th century.
📍 Monaco
Jewish residents of the Warsaw Ghetto launched a resistance uprising against Nazi efforts to transport them to concentration camps. Though ultimately suppressed, it became a symbol of resistance during the Holocaust.
📍 Warsaw, Poland
Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann intentionally ingested LSD, experiencing its hallucinogenic effects and marking the first documented LSD trip. The day became known among psychedelic enthusiasts as 'Bicycle Day'.
📍 Basel, Switzerland
El Rancho Vegas, the first resort on what would become the Las Vegas Strip, opened its doors. It launched the city’s transformation into a global center for entertainment and gambling.
📍 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Big band leader Glenn Miller and his orchestra recorded “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” which became a wartime hit and the first gold record in history. The song remains a symbol of the Swing Era.
📍 New York City, United States
The BBC aired its first daily radio news broadcast, pioneering regular radio journalism. This innovation would shape modern mass communication and make the BBC a household name worldwide.
📍 London, United Kingdom
The inaugural Boston Marathon took place with 15 runners, inspired by the marathon event in the 1896 Olympics. It has since become the world's oldest annual marathon and a major international sporting event.
📍 Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Charles Darwin published his groundbreaking book on coral reefs, presenting his subsidence theory, which explained the formation of atolls. It was one of his earliest major contributions to geology and evolutionary science.
📍 London, United Kingdom
The first shots of the American Revolutionary War were fired at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, marking the beginning of the colonies' armed struggle for independence from British rule.
📍 Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, United States