On this Day

ON THIS DAY: Apollo 8 Christmas Eve message from orbit (1968)

On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1968, the crew of Apollo 8 became the first humans to orbit the Moon- and delivered one of the most memorable...

ON THIS DAY: George Washington resigned (1783)

On this day in 1783, George Washington took a step that would define not only his legacy, but the future of democratic governance. Standing before...

ON THIS DAY: the Brandenburg Gate reopened (1989)

On this day in 1989, the Brandenburg Gate reopened, becoming one of the most powerful symbols of Germany’s path toward reunification. The landmark had been...

ON THIS DAY: The Nutcracker ballet premieres in Russia (1892)

A December premiere that made history On 18 December 1892, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker was presented for the first time at the Mariinsky Theatre in...

ON THIS DAY: Boston Tea Party (1773)

On this day in history, December 16, 1773, the Boston Tea Party took place: a dramatic act of protest that became one of the defining...