On this day: December 31
Ted Bundy’s Midnight Escape
The Houdini of Serial Killers While awaiting trial in a Colorado jail, Ted Bundy pulled off his most audacious escape.
Freedom’s Eve: The First "Watch Night"
Waiting for the Stroke of Midnight On December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes for what became known as "Watch Night."
A Dinner Party Inside a Dinosaur
The Victorian Height of Eccentricity To celebrate the completion of the world’s first life-sized dinosaur sculptures at the Crystal Palace, sculptor Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins hosted a surreal banquet.
Deadly New Year’s Eve Hotel Fire in Las Vegas Kills Dozens
A large fire broke out at a Las Vegas hotel on New Year’s Eve, killing dozens and injuring others. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause as emergency responders worked through the night to evacuate guests and treat the wounded.
Deadly New Year’s Eve Hotel Fire in Las Vegas Kills Dozens
On December 31, 1980, a major fire at a Las Vegas hotel on New Year’s Eve caused dozens of fatalities and many injuries, prompting investigations into building safety and emergency response practices.
EU leaders announce euro ready for circulation from 1999 switch
On 31 December 1998, European political and monetary leaders formally declared the euro ready to enter circulation, marking the culmination of years of economic coordination and the final step before the currency’s 1999 accounting start and 2002 cash launch.
Massive Beirut port explosion kills hundreds, devastates city
On December 31, 2020, a huge blast at Beirut’s port from stored ammonium nitrate tore through the city, killing and injuring hundreds, flattening neighborhoods, and prompting national and international outcry over negligence and government failures.