What Happened on December 28 in History?
December 28 has been a day of major shifts, from the birth of cinema to the formal conclusion of the longest war in U.S. history.
Significant Historical Events
End of the U.S. Afghan War (2014): After 13 years of conflict, the U.S. war in Afghanistan formally ended with a flag-lowering ceremony in Kabul.
The Birth of Cinema (1895): The Lumière brothers held the world’s first commercial public screening of their films at the Grand Café in Paris.
The "Greatest Game Ever Played" (1958): The Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants in overtime for the NFL Championship, a game credited with skyrocketing the league's popularity.
The Endangered Species Act (1973): President Richard Nixon signed this landmark environmental legislation into law.
First American "Test-Tube" Baby (1981): Elizabeth Jordan Carr was born in Norfolk, Virginia, as the first U.S. child conceived via in-vitro fertilization.
Vice President Resignation (1832): John C. Calhoun became the first U.S. Vice President to resign from office due to political differences with Andrew Jackson.
Iowa Statehood (1846): Iowa was admitted to the Union as the 29th U.S. state.
Messina Earthquake (1908): One of the most destructive earthquakes in European history struck southern Italy, killing an estimated 100,000 people.
Notable Births
Woodrow Wilson (1856): The 28th U.S. President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Stan Lee (1922): Legendary Marvel Comics creator.
Maggie Smith (1934): Acclaimed British actress known for Harry Potter and Downton Abbey.
Denzel Washington (1954): Academy Award-winning American actor.
John Legend (1978): Award-winning singer-songwriter.
Notable Deaths
Queen Mary II of England (1694): Died of smallpox at age 32.
Maurice Ravel (1937): Famous French composer of Boléro.
Dennis Wilson (1983): Founding member and drummer of The Beach Boys.
Lemmy Kilmister (2015): Frontman of the heavy metal band Motörhead.
John Madden (2021): Legendary NFL coach and broadcaster.
Brigitte Bardot (2025): French actress, singer, model and animal rights activist.
Observances
Feast of the Holy Innocents: A Christian feast day commemorating the infants killed by King Herod.
Pledge of Allegiance Day: Commemorating the 1945 formal recognition of the pledge by the U.S. Congress.
