This Day in History: June 29

1613 Shakespeare's Globe Theatre burns down during a performance of "Henry VIII"

During a performance of "Henry VIII", a canon used for special effects misfired and set fire to the thatched roof of the Globe Theatre in London. The entire structure burned to the ground within an hour.

1900 Imperial Chinese Court issues declaration of war against foreigners in China

The Boxer Rebellion, a violent anti-foreigner and anti-Christian movement, swept across China. The Imperial Chinese Court issued a declaration of war against foreigners, blaming them for the hostilities and granting the Boxers even greater ferocity in their attacks.

1927 U.S. aviators complete the first transpacific flight

Lester Maitland and Albert Hegenberger flew their "Bird of Paradise" aircraft from Oakland Municipal Airport to Oahu, Hawaii, marking the first successful transpacific flight in history. The journey took 25 hours and 50 minutes.

1964 Civil Rights Act of 1964 passes after an 83-day filibuster in the US Senate

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment and public accommodations. The legislation was the culmination of years of struggle by civil rights activists and was a major victory for the movement.

1966 US planes bomb North Vietnamese capital Hanoi and port city of Haiphong for the first time

The Vietnam War escalated as the US began bombing the North Vietnamese capital of Hanoi and the port city of Haiphong. The bombings marked a significant escalation in the conflict and led to increased anti-war sentiment in the United States.

1990 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are banned to protect the ozone layer

The London Amendment to the Montreal Protocol was signed, which called for the phasing out of CFCs, a substance known to be harmful to the ozone layer. Developed countries were required to phase out CFCs by 2000, while developing countries were given until 2010 to comply.

1994 US reopens Guantanamo Naval Base to process refugees

The United States reopened the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba as a processing center for refugees fleeing Haiti. Over the years, the base has been used for a variety of purposes, including as a detention center for suspected terrorists.

2007 Apple releases the first iPhone

Apple released the first iPhone, revolutionizing the smartphone industry with its touchscreen interface, advanced features, and sleek design. The iPhone quickly became one of the most popular and successful products in Apple's history, helping to make the company one of the world's most valuable.

1986 Richard Branson breaks the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing by boat

Richard Branson, the British businessman, set a new record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by boat, completing the journey in about three days on his speedboat "Virgin Atlantic Challenger II". However, he was denied the prestigious Blue Riband for the fastest crossing because he refueled on the way.

1995: Space Shuttle Atlantis Docks with Russian Space Station Mir

The docking of the Space Shuttle Atlantis with the Russian space station Mir on June 29, 1995, marked a new era of cooperation between the former Cold War adversaries. It was a significant event in space history, as it was the first time that a US spacecraft had docked with a Russian spacecraft. The historic mission was the result of years of negotiations and technical cooperation between the two nations. The docking created the largest man-made Earth satellite in history and opened the door for further collaboration between the US and Russia in space exploration.