What Happened on December 27?
December 27 is Visit the Zoo Day — a fun nudge to meet wildlife and learn conservation — on the same date Darwin sailed on the Beagle in 1831, Radio City Music Hall opened in 1932, and Peter Pan premiered in London in 1904.
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1512 — Spain issues the Laws of Burgos governing Indigenous labor in the Americas
On December 27, 1512, Spanish rulers proclaimed the Laws of Burgos — early colonial rules about Indigenous peoples in the Caribbean. Read the full story →
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1831 — Charles Darwin sets sail on HMS Beagle
On December 27, 1831, young naturalist Charles Darwin left Plymouth, England, aboard HMS Beagle for a voyage that shaped evolutionary science. Read the full story →
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1904 — J.M. Barrie's play Peter Pan opens in London
On December 27, 1904, Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up premiered at the Duke of York's Theatre in London. Read the full story →
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1932 — Radio City Music Hall opens in New York City
On December 27, 1932, Radio City Music Hall opened its Art Deco doors in Midtown Manhattan — soon home to the Rockettes and legendary shows. Read the full story →
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1945 — The World Bank formally begins operations
On December 27, 1945, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development — part of today's World Bank Group — came into being as nations ratified postwar agreements. Read the full story →
Famous birthdays
Louis Pasteur (1822–1895) · Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) · Marlene Dietrich (1901–1992) · Timothée Chalamet (1995)
Days & observances
Visit the Zoo Day · National Fruitcake Day · Feast of Saint John the Apostle · International Day of Epidemic Preparedness