Video: 'The 1903 Iroquois Theater Fire - Chicago (HQ)'

(Wednesday, December 30, 1903, about 3:15 p.m.) — At least 605 people died today when fire broke out at the recently opened Iroquois Theater in Chicago. It is the deadliest theater fire and the deadliest single-building fire in United States history.

Video: 'Gadsden Purchase - Manifest Destiny Choose Your Own Adventure'

(Friday, December 30, 1853) — The United States and Mexico signed a treaty today under which the U.S. agreed to buy some 45,000 square miles of land from Mexico for $10 million in a deal known as the Gadsden Purchase.

Video: 'The Forgotten War of 1812.' (Dec. 30, 1813 at 1:08:25)

(Thursday, December 30, 1813, during the Battle of Buffalo,
part the War of 1812) — British forces engaged in considerable plundering and destruction today in Buffalo, New York, in retaliation for the burning by American troops of the Canadian village of Newark (present day Niagara-on-the-Lake).

(Friday, December 30, 1983, 9:15 a.m. CET) — Four gunmen today walked to the shared ticket counter for Israel’s El Al Airlines and Trans World Airlines at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport outside Rome, Italy, fired assault rifles, and threw grenades. Continue reading 19 civilians killed in terrorist attacks on airports in Rome and Vienna 30 years ago this hour (12/30/1983) →