December 24 - This day in History

December 24: General Interest
1979: Soviet tanks roll into Afghanistan

On December 24, 1979, the Soviet Union invades Afghanistan, under the pretext of upholding the Soviet-Afghan Friendship Treaty of 1978. As midnight approached, the Soviets organized a massive military airlift into Kabul... read more


American Revolution
1745 : Benjamin Rush is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/benjamin-rush-is-born


Automotive
1801 : Richard Trevithick introduces his "Puffing Devil"
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/richard-trevithick-introduces-his-puffing-devil


Civil War
1864 : Bombardment of Fort Fisher begins
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bombardment-of-fort-fisher-begins


Cold War
1952 : McCarren-Walter Act goes into effect
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mccarren-walter-act-goes-into-effect


Crime
1994 : Islamic terrorists hijack a French plane
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/islamic-terrorists-hijack-a-french-plane


Disaster
1953 : Volcanic eruption sweeps away train
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/volcanic-eruption-sweeps-away-train


General Interest
1814 : War of 1812 ends
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/war-of-1812-ends

1851 : Fire ravages Library of Congress
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fire-ravages-library-of-congress

1865 : KKK founded
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/kkk-founded


Hollywood
1997 : Woody Allen marries Soon-Yi Previn
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/woody-allen-marries-soon-yi-previn


Literary
1973 : Stephenie Meyer, best-selling author of vampire novels, is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/stephenie-meyer-best-selling-author-of-vampire-novels-is-born


Music
1988 : "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" puts Poison atop the charts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/quotevery-rose-has-its-thornquot-puts-poison-atop-the-charts


Old West
1809 : Kit Carson born in Kentucky
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/kit-carson-born-in-kentucky


Presidential
1851 : Fire destroys Jefferson library
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fire-destroys-jefferson-library

1923 : Coolidge lights first national Christmas tree
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/coolidge-lights-first-national-christmas-tree


Sports
1969 : Curt Flood challenges MLB reserve clause
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/curt-flood-challenges-mlb-reserve-clause


Vietnam War
1964 : Viet Cong bomb Brinks Hotel
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/viet-cong-bomb-brinks-hotel

1972 : Bob Hope gives his last show in Vietnam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bob-hope-gives-his-last-show-in-vietnam


World War I
1918 : American soldier John Douglas writes home from post-armistice France
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-soldier-john-douglas-writes-home-from-post-armistice-france


World War II
1942 : French Admiral Jean Darlan is assassinated
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/french-admiral-jean-darlan-is-assassinated