December 18 - The Day in History

December 18 : General Interest 1620: Mayflower docks at Plymouth Harbor On December 18, 1620, the British ship Mayflower docked at modern-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, and its passengers prepared to begin their new settlement, Plymouth Colony... read more American Revolution 1777 : States give thanks http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/states-give-thanks Automotive 1968 : "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" opens in New York http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chitty-chitty-bang-bang-opens-in-new-york Civil War 1862 : Rebles rout Yankees in western Tennessee http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-lexington-tennessee Cold War 1972 : Nixon announces start of "Christmas Bombing" of North Vietnam http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-announces-start-of-christmas-bombing-of-north-vietnam Crime 1878 : The death of Molly-ism http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-death-of-molly-ism Disaster 1982 : Power plant burns in Venezuela http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/power-plant-burns-in-venezuela General Interest 1912 : Piltdown Man discovered http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/piltdown-man-discovered Hollywood 1946 : Director Steven Spielberg born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/director-steven-spielberg-born Literary 1870 : Short story writer H.H. Munro is born in Burma http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/short-story-writer-hh-munro-is-born-in-burma Music 1961 : The Tokens earn a #1 hit with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-tokens-earn-a-1-hit-with-quotthe-lion-sleeps-tonightquot Old West 1888 : Wetherill and Mason discover Mesa Verde http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/wetherill-and-mason-discover-mesa-verde Presidential 1915 : Woodrow Wilson marries Edith Bolling Galt http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/woodrow-wilson-marries-edith-bolling-galt Sports 1886 : Ty Cobb is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ty-cobb-is-born Vietnam War 1972 : Nixon orders the initiation of Operation Linebacker II http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-orders-the-initiation-of-operation-linebacker-ii World War I 1916 : Battle of Verdun ends http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-verdun-ends World War II 1941 : Japan invades Hong Kong http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-invades-hong-kong

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HISTORY Shop ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Find your favorite shows from HISTORY on DVD Shop our store today!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HISTORY Magazine ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you enjoy American History? If so, please consider subscribing to The History Channel Magazine. Learn insights into the significant events that helped shape America's past. Try the club today!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From our A+E Networks Family ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BIO.com has made big changes! Check out our On This Day site for exclusive, new videos about the famous people who have made history in politics, sports, entertainment and more. BIO has also added brand new content, including more than 1,500 groups, over 300 new biographies, and dozens of new photo galleries. Plus, see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons, from Barack Obama to Lady Gaga, when you sign in to BIO.com via Facebook! See all these great features and more when you visit the all-new BIO.com.