Today in History: Notable Events of November 21
As the world marks November 21, the 326th day of 2024, it reflects on significant historical events that occurred on this date. Among the tragedies, on November 21, 1980, a devastating fire at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas resulted in the loss of 85 lives, primarily from smoke inhalation. That same day marks pivotal moments in global history; in 1920, “Bloody Sunday” unfolded in Dublin, where the Irish Republican Army killed 14 suspected British intelligence officers, prompting retaliatory violence from British forces.
Turning to landmarks, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in New York City opened in 1964, celebrated then as the longest suspension bridge globally. This date has also witnessed major cultural events, notably in 1980 when over 83 million viewers tuned in to CBS’s “Dallas” to learn the identity of J.R. Ewing’s shooter, a moment that captivated American audiences.
The political landscape has also seen its share of tumultuous events. In 1985, U.S. Navy analyst Jonathan Jay Pollard was arrested for espionage on behalf of Israel. Similarly, in 1990, financier Michael R. Milken was sentenced to prison for securities fraud, and in 2017, Zimbabwe’s long-standing president, Robert Mugabe, resigned amid political pressure.
In space exploration, November 21, 2022, marked NASA’s Orion capsule’s successful lunar flyby, the first American spacecraft to visit the moon since the Apollo missions.
Today’s celebrations include the birthdays of notable individuals such as actress Marlo Thomas (87), basketball legend Earl Monroe (80), and musician Björk (59), among others, reminding us of the diverse contributions across various fields.
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Photo credit www.bostonherald.com
