On this day: April 21
Ring Collapse Stops 1939 Boxing Match in Mid-Round
A scheduled April 21, 1939, boxing bout ended abruptly when the ring’s platform gave way during the fight, forcing officials to stop the match and clear the arena; contemporary reports described panic but no fatal injuries.
New York’s 1904 Bellevue drill: origins of the modern fire drill
On April 21, 1904, Bellevue Hospital in New York City staged what contemporaries and later historians describe as the first organized modern fire drill, introducing systematic alarm, evacuation and staff roles that informed later public safety practices.
Launch of the First Nuclear-Powered Submarine, USS Nautilus
On April 21, 1954, the U.S. Navy launched USS Nautilus (SSN-571), the world’s first operational nuclear-powered submarine, marking a major advance in naval propulsion and Cold War maritime strategy.
First Regular Television News Broadcast Debuts, April 21, 1948
On April 21, 1948, the United States saw the debut of what is widely recognized as the first regular television news broadcast, marking a shift from radio and newsreels to scheduled TV news programming.