What Happened on December 30?

December 30 is National Bacon Day — a crispy food celebration — on the same date the Soviet Union was founded in 1922, the Gadsden Purchase was signed in 1853, and Flint autoworkers began their sit-down strike in 1936.

• 1853 — The Gadsden Purchase agreement is signed

  On December 30, 1853, U.S. ambassador James Gadsden signed a treaty buying a strip of land from Mexico — later called the Gadsden Purchase. Read the full story →

• 1862 — The ironclad USS Monitor sinks in a storm off Cape Hatteras

  On December 30, 1862, the famous Civil War ironclad USS Monitor went down in rough seas while being towed off North Carolina. Read the full story →

• 1922 — The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is founded

  On December 30, 1922, Russia and neighboring soviet republics formed the U.S.S.R. — the Soviet Union. Read the full story →

• 1924 — Edwin Hubble's findings expand the known universe beyond the Milky Way

  In late December 1924, news spread of Edwin Hubble's proof that 'spiral nebulae' were distant galaxies — a universe far bigger than our Milky Way. Read the full story →

• 1936 — The Flint sit-down strike begins against General Motors

  On December 30, 1936, autoworkers in Flint, Michigan, began a sit-down strike that helped win union recognition from General Motors. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) · Tiger Woods (1975) · LeBron James (1984) · Bo Diddley (1928–2008)

Days & observances

National Bacon Day · Falling Needles Family Fest Day · National Bicarbonate of Soda Day · Rizal Day