Opening of Sydney Opera House
Australia’s Sydney Opera House—designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, whose dynamic, imaginative, and problematic plan won an international competition in 1957—was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on this day in 1973. 1973.
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx collected a sample of rock and dust from the asteroid Bennu—the first time a U.S. spacecraft had done so. 2020.
Libyan de facto leader Muammar al-Qaddafi was killed by rebel forces following a revolt that ended his rule. 2011.
Blue Stream, the deepest underwater pipeline in the world, opened in Turkey and was put in use for the transport of natural gas. 2002.
A plane carrying the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, known for such songs as Free Bird and Sweet Home Alabama, crashed in Gillsburg, Mississippi, killing singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines, among others. 1977.
The Battle of Sekigahara established the hegemony of the Tokugawa family in Japan. 1600.
