2021
Rare winter wildfire destroys nearly 1000 homes at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, in suburban neighborhoods between Boulder and Denver.
Source

2020
San Antonio assistant Becky Hammon becomes first female to coach an NBA team after Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is ejected in a 121-107 loss to the LA Lakers.
Source

2013
A bombing took place on a trolleybus in Russia.
In Volgograd, Russia, 16 people were killed in a bomb attack on a trolleybus, leaving 41 injured. A terrorist Jihadist organization later took claim for the attack.
Source

2006
The Madrid Barajas International Airport was bombed.
A van bomb exploded in the Terminal 4 parking area of the airport, which killed two and injured 52. Claim for the attack was taken by a separatist group, ETA – Euskadi Ta Askatasuna.
Source

2005
Tropical Storm Zeta formed in the open Atlantic Ocean.
It tied the record for the latest tropical cyclone ever to form in the North Atlantic basin.
Source

1997
The Wilaya of Relizane massacre occurred, 400 people were killed from four villages. It was the worst incident in Algeria’s insurgency.
Source

1981
Stevie Wonder released “That Girl,” which went on to win Billboard Song of the Year.
Source

1968
Frank Sinatra first recorded “My Way,” with lyrics written by Paul Anka based on the French song “Comme d’habitude.”
Source

1940
California’s first freeway, Arroyo Seco Parkway, officially opened to traffic.
Source

1939
The American drama movie “Of Mice and Men” was released in the US.
Source

1924
Astronomer Edwin Hubble formally announced the existence of other galactic systems at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society.
Source

1922
The founding of the Soviet Union was announced.
The formation of the USSR was formally proclaimed in Moscow from the Bolshoi Theatre. The Soviet Union was organized as a federation of RSFSR, Ukrainian SSR, Belorussian SSR, and Transcaucasian SSR.
Source

1905
Frank Steunenberg, the former governor of Idaho, was assassinated outside his home.
A miner named Harry Orchard was arrested for the assassination and was later sentenced to life in prison. Orchard attempted to implicate the leaders of a radical miner’s union in the plot, but the leaders were all acquitted.
Source

1853
The United States bought 45,000 square miles of land from Mexico.
Known as the Gadsden Purchase, this deal was finalized in 1854.
Source

1813
British forces retaliated against the United States and burned Buffalo, New York, to the ground.
Source