June 24th

2012
Lonesome George, the last known Pinta Island Tortoise, died at a Galapagos National Park, making the subspecies extinct.
Lonesome George
2011
New York passes a law to allow same-sex marriage, becoming the largest state that allows gay and lesbian couples to marry.
Marriage Equality Act (New York)
2002
Africa's worst ever train disaster kills 281. The crash occurred near Msagali, Tanzania, when a passenger train with some 1200 passengers rolled back down Igandu hill after its brakes had failed.
Runaway train
1997
The U.S. Air Force released The Roswell Report, closing the case on the 1947 Roswell, N.M. incident concerning UFOs and alien bodies.
Unidentified flying object
1982
A British Airways jumbo jet experiences a sudden total engine failure. At the same time, the crew observed a mysterious glow in the darkness. The Boeing 747's pilots had unwittingly flown into a cloud of volcanic ash caused by the eruption of Mount Galunggung, causing all four engines to flame out. The crew eventually succeeded in restarting the engines and landing safely in Jakarta.
Flameout
1948
The Soviet Union began a blockade of Berlin. Allied forces responded with what would be known as the Berlin Airlift flying in more than 2 million tons of supplies over the next year.
Berlin Blockade
1947
Kenneth Arnold, an American pilot, reported seeing strange objects near Mt. Rainier, Washington. He described them as "saucers skipping across the water," hence the term "flying saucers" was born.
Kenneth Arnold UFO sighting
1930
1st radar detection of planes, Anacostia DC.
Albert H. Taylor
1908
The 22nd and 24th president of the United States, Grover Cleveland, died in Princeton, N.J.
Grover Cleveland
1901
1st exhibition by Pablo Picasso, 19, opens in Paris.
Guernica (Picasso)
1853
Gadsden Purchase 29,670-square-mile (76,800 square km) from Mexico (now southern Arizona and New Mexico) for $10 million signed by President Franklin Pierce.
Gadsden Purchase
1812
Napoleon Bonaparte's forces invade Russia crossing the Neman River.
French invasion of Russia
1793
1st republican constitution in France adopted.
French Constitution of 1793
1717
The world's first Masonic Grand Lodge is established. Freemasonry is a fraternal organization that has counted among its members a large number of known intellectuals. Due to its secretive nature, many myths about their underground activities have emerged through the ages. A Grand Lodge is the governing body for a certain geographic area.
History of Freemasonry
1675
King Philip's War, the most devastating war between the colonists and Indians, began with Indians attacking the Swansea (Mass.) settlement.
Great Swamp Fight
1647
Early American feminist Margaret Brent demanded a seat and vote in the Maryland Assembly, but was ejected from that body.
1509
Henry VIII is crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey.
Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby
1497
John Cabot claims Eastern Canada for England (believes he found Asia in Nova Scotia).
John Cabot
2021 · hello todayhappened.com