What Happened on November 29?

November 29 is Electronic Greetings Day — send a digital hello — on the same date Byrd flew over the South Pole in 1929, Navy beat Army in their first football game in 1890, and chimpanzee Enos orbited Earth in 1961.

• 1864 — U.S. militia attack a Cheyenne and Arapaho camp at Sand Creek

  On November 29, 1864, Colorado militia attacked a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho encampment at Sand Creek, killing many people — a tragedy now called the Sand Creek Massacre. Read the full story →

• 1877 — Thomas Edison completes a key sketch of the phonograph

  On November 29, 1877, Thomas Edison handed machinist John Kruesi a sketch of a talking machine — the tinfoil phonograph that would soon record sound. Read the full story →

• 1890 — Navy beats Army in the first Army–Navy football game

  On November 29, 1890, midshipmen from the Naval Academy defeated West Point cadets 24–0 in the first Army–Navy football game. Read the full story →

• 1899 — FC Barcelona is founded

  On November 29, 1899, Swiss sportsman Joan Gamper placed an ad seeking players — and Football Club Barcelona was born. Read the full story →

• 1929 — Richard Byrd's team completes the first flight over the South Pole

  On November 29, 1929, Richard E. Byrd and his crew flew an airplane over the South Pole — the first people to see it from the air. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888) · C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) · Madeleine L'Engle (1918–2007) · Chadwick Boseman (1976–2020)

Days & observances

Electronic Greetings Day · National Lemon Cream Pie Day · Square Dancing Day · National Package Protection Day