December 3: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

The 70th anniversary of NATO was marked by a gathering in London of world leaders, followed by a reception by Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

The 7-year old Ryan of “Ryan Toysreview” was announced as the year’s highest-paid YouTube star earning $22 million.

The first pizza party was held in space.

Held by the International Space Station astronauts, the event was spurred by an Italian astronaut who mentioned that he missed pizza. So NASA sent up the ingredients, and history was made!

The US Defense Secretary announced that the US Military would open all combat roles to women.

HAL Laboratory’s Super Smash Bros. Melee was released by Nintendo for the GameCube.

While the first title in the series was already pretty popular, Super Smash Bros. Melee knocked it right out of the park. It sold more copies than any other GameCube game ever made.

NASA lost radio contact with the Mars Polar Lander moments before the spacecraft entered the Martian atmosphere.

The original PlayStation was launched in Japan.

Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and US President George H. W. Bush declared an end to the Cold War.

Seven armed men attempted to assassinate Bob Marley while he was on break from rehearsal.

Agatha Christie mysteriously disappeared for 11 days.

On this day, Agatha Christie drove off from her home and went missing for 11 days. Authorities found her car, but not Christie. She was later found at a hotel, where she herself had no memory of the days prior.

Neon lighting was first demonstrated at the Paris Motor Show by Georges Claude.

State troopers in Victoria, Australia, killed more than 30 gold miners at the Battle of the Eureka Stockade.

Illinois became the 21st state to join the United States of America.

The Grand Union Flag flew for the first time with the commissioning of the USS Alfred.

The Grand Union Flag was the first national flag of the United States of America and made its debut aboard the USS Alfred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This flag was in use until 1777, when the first flags with thirteen stars were introduced.