On This Day: March 3rd – Historical Events and Birthdays

Today, March 3rd, marks a day of significant events throughout history, from political shifts to cultural milestones and the birthdays of notable figures. Here’s a look back at what happened on this date.

Historical Events

• 1924: The Grand Turkish National Assembly abolished the Caliphate, and exiled the last Caliph, Abdul Megid II. Britannica
• 1931: The United States officially adopted “The Star-Spangled Banner” as its national anthem. USA.gov
• 1933: Mount Rushmore National Memorial was officially opened to the public. National Park Service
• 1939: Mohandas Gandhi began a fast in Bombay (now Mumbai) to protest against India’s autocratic government. Gandhi Heritage Portal
• 1944: The “Train disaster 8017” occurred in Balvano, Italy, becoming the country’s deadliest railway disaster with over 500 fatalities.
• 1955: Elvis Presley made his first national television appearance. Elvis Presley Official Website
• 1961: Hasan II ascended to the throne as King of Morocco.
• 1969: Sirhan Sirhan confessed in a Los Angeles court to the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. JFK Library
• 1972: NASA launched the Pioneer 10 space probe, the first spacecraft to traverse the asteroid belt. NASA
• 1991: An amateur video surfaced showing the beating of Rodney King by LAPD officers, sparking widespread outrage. History.com
• 1995: The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Somalia concluded.
• 2002: Swiss citizens voted in favor of their country joining the United Nations. Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
• 2007: A total lunar eclipse was visible in Italy.
• 2017: Nintendo released the Nintendo Switch console to the public. Nintendo

Birthdays

• Francesco Apolloni (born March 3, 1974) – Italian screenwriter, director, and actor
• Francesco Paolantoni (born March 3, 1956) – Italian actor
• Milena Mancini (born March 3, 1977) – Italian actress

March 3rd continues to be a date marked by significant events and the celebration of creative talents.