March 29 in History

Significant events that happened on this day.

Today

Historical Events

2004

Ireland became the first country in the world to ban smoking in all indoor workplaces

The comprehensive ban included pubs, restaurants, and offices, sparking global debate about public health versus personal freedom. Bar owners predicte...

1999

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 10,000 for the first time in history

The psychological milestone came during the dot-com bubble, with investors celebrating the seemingly unstoppable stock market. Within 18 months, the b...

1982

The town of Ismay, Montana officially changed its name to Joe, Montana for publicity

The tiny town of 22 people renamed itself after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana in exchange for sponsorship money. They changed it back af...

1974

Chinese farmers digging a well accidentally discovered the Terracotta Army

Major

Local farmers in Xi'an uncovered fragments of a clay figure, leading to one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century. Over 8,000 life-...

1973

The last U.S. combat troops withdrew from Vietnam, ending direct American military involvement

Major

After nearly two decades of fighting, the final 2,500 troops left South Vietnam. Despite the withdrawal, the war continued between North and South Vie...

1962

Jack Paar walked off The Tonight Show on live television after NBC censored one of his jokes

Paar quit mid-show after censors cut a joke about a bathroom, telling the shocked audience "I am leaving The Tonight Show." He returned a month later...

1951

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of espionage for passing atomic bomb secrets to the Soviet Union

The married couple became the first American civilians executed for espionage during peacetime. Their 1953 execution sparked massive protests worldwid...

1936

Adolf Hitler received 99% of the vote in a German referendum, with a 99% turnout

The sham election supposedly endorsed Hitler's remilitarization of the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles. Voters cast ballots in public wi...

1886

Dr. John Pemberton brewed the first batch of Coca-Cola in a backyard kettle in Atlanta

Major

The pharmacist originally marketed it as a patent medicine to cure headaches and nervous disorders. The first year, he sold an average of nine drinks...

1867

The British North America Act was passed, creating the Dominion of Canada

Queen Victoria gave royal assent to the act that united three British colonies into a self-governing confederation. Canada celebrates this as the begi...

1848

Niagara Falls stopped flowing completely for the first and only time in recorded history

Ice jams on Lake Erie blocked the Niagara River, causing the falls to go silent for about 30 hours. Thousands of people walked out onto the dry riverb...

1807

A German astronomer discovered the asteroid Vesta, the brightest asteroid visible from Earth

Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers spotted Vesta, which is so bright it can occasionally be seen with the naked eye. It's the only asteroid visible without a tel...