July 28: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

Meghan Markle became the first-ever guest editor for UK Vogue.

Working on the September 2019 issue, Markle created a cover for Vogue that included the faces of fifteen women she admired. Some of the people included Jane Fonda and Greta Thunberg.

The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) called for an end to 36 years of bloody conflict with the UK.

Mary J. Blige’s album “What’s the 411?” was released by Uptown Records and MCA Records.

The Soviet Union launched its second reconnaissance satellite, Kosmos 4.

While launched under the name Kosmos 7, the spy satellite was actually a Zenit 2 satellite, the USSR's first generation of recon satellites. Its four-day mission was largely for reconnaissance purposes, although it was also used to record various radiation levels for future missions. Its launch marked the first successful use of the Soviet Vostok-2 expendable rocket, with the previous attempt failing catastrophically.

Gangster-drama movie “On the Waterfront” hit US theaters.

In 1989, "On the Waterfront" was one of the first 25 films deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress.

Walt Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland” was released in New York City, US.

The original release was just two days prior in London, UK.

US bomber plane crashed into the Empire State Building in New York City, and Lou Oliver survived a 75-story drop in an elevator.

Nicknamed "Elevator Girl," she holds the world record for the longest surviving elevator fall.

Furniture retailer IKEA opened its first store in Sweden.

Ingvar Kamprad was just 17 years old when he launched IKEA. The store initially sold small items, like picture frames. The original shop is now a museum on the founding plot.

Idaho’s hottest day was recorded at a scorching 118°F (48°C).

The American horror movie “White Zombie” was released at New York City’s Rivoli Theater.

The movie became the first feature-length zombie film of all time.

333 US marines invaded Haiti, beginning a 19-year occupation.

The United States ratified the 14th Amendment to allow former slaves citizenship in the US.

English poet Henry James Pye became Poet Laureate in the United Kingdom.

Being appointed to this position is highly regarded, and the poet chosen will be asked to write poems for special occasions.

The siege of Damascus was abandoned.

The siege occurred during the second crusade, which began when the county of Edessa fell. This was Europe's second-largest crusade.