History Today

Today in History — May 29

1953

29 May 1953: Hillary and Tenzing Reach the Summit of Everest

On May 29, 1953, New Zealand beekeeper Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first human beings confirmed to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth at 29,032 feet…

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More from the Archive

1453

28 May 1453: The Eve of Constantinople Fall to the Ottomans

On April 28, 1789, crew members of HMS Bounty, led by Fletcher Christian, seized control of the ship from Captain William Bligh in one of the most famous mutinies in naval history. The dramatic events…

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1937

27 May 1937: Golden Gate Bridge Opens to the Public

On May 27, 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge opened to pedestrian traffic, marking the completion of what was then the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world. Spanning the treacherous strait connecting San Francisco…

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