February 28 - The Day in History

February 28 : General Interest 1953 : Watson and Crick discover chemical structure of DNA On this day in 1953, Cambridge University scientists James D. Watson and Frances H.C. Crick announce that they have determined the double-helix structure of DNA, the molecule containing human genes.... read more American Revolution 1784 : John Wesley charters first Methodist Church in U.S. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-wesley-charters-first-methodist-church-in-us Automotive 1940 : Racing legend Mario Andretti born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/racing-legend-mario-andretti-born Civil War 1864 : Union begins cavalry raid in Virginia http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/kilpatrick-dahlgren-raid-begins Cold War 1987 : Gorbachev calls for nuclear weapons treaty http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/gorbachev-calls-for-nuclear-weapons-treaty Crime 1993 : Federal agents raid the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/federal-agents-raid-the-branch-davidian-compound-in-waco-texas Disaster 1975 : Subway crash in London kills 43 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/subway-crash-in-london-kills-43 General Interest 1982 : Getty Museum endowed http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/getty-museum-endowed 1993 : ATF raids Branch Davidian compound http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atf-raids-branch-davidian-compound 1994 : First NATO Military Action http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-nato-military-action Hollywood 1983 : Final episode of M*A*S*H airs http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/final-episode-of-mash-airs Literary 1894 : Ben Hecht is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ben-hecht-is-born Music 1964 : Thelonious Monk makes the cover of Time magazine http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thelonious-monk-makes-the-cover-of-time-magazine Old West 1861 : Congress creates Colorado Territory http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/congress-creates-colorado-territory Presidential 1844 : Tyler narrowly escapes death on the USS Princeton http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tyler-narrowly-escapes-death-on-the-uss-princeton Sports 1931 : Basketball coaching legend Dean Smith born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/basketball-coaching-legend-dean-smith-born Vietnam War 1968 : Wheeler says Westmoreland will need more troops http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/wheeler-says-westmoreland-will-need-more-troops World War I 1916 : German Cameroons surrenders to Allied forces http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/german-cameroons-surrenders-to-allied-forces World War II 1944 : Test pilot Reitsch pitches suicide squad to Hitler http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/test-pilot-reitsch-pitches-suicide-squad-to-hitler

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