December 15 - This day in HIstory

December 15: General Interest
2001: Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens

On this day in 2001, Italy's Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after a team of experts spent 11 years and $27 million to fortify the tower without eliminating its famous lean... read more


American Revolution
1791 : The Bill of Rights becomes law
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-bill-of-rights-becomes-law


Automotive
1896 : Stephen M. Balzer patents rotary-engine auto
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/stephen-m-balzer-patents-rotary-engine-auto


Civil War
1864 : Yankees and Rebels clash at the Battle of Nashville
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-nashville-tennessee


Cold War
1978 : United States announces that it will recognize communist China
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-announces-that-it-will-recognize-communist-china


Crime
1988 : James Brown begins his prison sentence
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/james-brown-begins-his-prison-sentence


Disaster
1999 : Heavy rain leads to mudslides in Venezuela
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/heavy-rain-leads-to-mudslides-in-venezuela


General Interest
1791 : Bill of Rights is finally ratified
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bill-of-rights-is-finally-ratified

1961 : Architect of the Holocaust sentenced to die
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/architect-of-the-holocaust-sentenced-to-die

1973 : Billionaire's kidnapped grandson found in Italy
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/billionaires-kidnapped-grandson-found-in-italy


Hollywood
1993 : Schindler's List opens, wins Spielberg his first Oscar
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/schindlers-list-opens-wins-spielberg-his-first-oscar


Literary
1936 : George Orwell delivers the manuscript for The Road to Wigan Pier
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-orwell-delivers-the-manuscript-for-the-road-to-wigan-pier


Music
1944 : Legendary bandleader Glenn Miller disappears over the English Channel
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/legendary-bandleader-glenn-miller-disappears-over-the-english-channel


Old West
1890 : Sitting Bull killed by Indian police
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sitting-bull-killed-by-indian-police


Presidential
1998 : U.S. House of Representatives recommends impeaching Clinton
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-house-of-representatives-recommends-impeaching-clinton


Sports
1973 : Jockey Sandy Hawley wins record 500th race
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jockey-sandy-hawley-wins-record-500th-race


Vietnam War
1965 : U.S. bombers strike industrial targets in North Vietnam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-bombers-strike-industrial-targets-in-north-vietnam

1969 : Nixon announces additional U.S. troop withdrawals
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-announces-additional-us-troop-withdrawals


World War I
1915 : British begin evacuation of Gallipoli
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-begin-evacuation-of-gallipoli


World War II
1945 : MacArthur orders end of Shinto as Japanese state religion
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/macarthur-orders-end-of-shinto-as-japanese-state-religion