What Happened on November 26?

On November 26, 1922, Howard Carter peeked into King Tutankhamun's tomb and saw 'wonderful things.' It is also the day America's first president declared a national day of thanks, Casablanca premiered in New York, and NASA landed a spacecraft on Mars.

• 1789 — Washington proclaims America's first national day of thanksgiving

  At Congress' request, President George Washington asked Americans to set aside Thursday, November 26, 1789, for giving thanks — the first Thanksgiving declared under the new Constitution. Read the full story →

• 1863 — Lincoln's Thanksgiving falls on November 26 in 1863

  In 1863, Abraham Lincoln's national Thanksgiving Day was observed on Thursday, November 26 — helping set the late-November tradition. Read the full story →

• 1922 — Howard Carter peers into King Tutankhamun's tomb — "wonderful things!"

  After a tiny hole was chiseled in a sealed doorway, Howard Carter held up a candle and glimpsed untouched treasure inside the tomb of Egypt's boy-king Tutankhamun. Read the full story →

• 1942 — Casablanca premieres in New York City

  A World War II romance starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman opened in New York — rushed to theaters to match the headlines, it became one of the most beloved movies ever made. Read the full story →

• 2011 — NASA launches the Curiosity rover toward Mars

  On November 26, 2011, an Atlas V rocket launched Curiosity on a journey to Gale Crater on Mars. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000) · Tina Turner (1939–2023) · Norbert Wiener (1894–1964) · DJ Khaled (1975)

Days & observances

Thanksgiving Day (United States) · National Cake Day · National Leave the Office Early Day · National Good Grief Day