104 years ago today
Howard Carter Enters Tutankhamun's Tomb
On November 26, 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter and his patron Lord Carnarvon made a small breach in the sealed doorway of the inner chamber in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt. Carter held a candle up to the opening, and when asked if he could see anything, he reportedly replied, "Yes, wonderful things." What he saw was the intact burial chamber of the boy pharaoh Tutankhamun, undisturbed for over 3,300 years — filled with golden treasures, shrines, and the golden death mask that would become the most iconic image of ancient Egypt. The discovery was the greatest archaeological find of the twentieth century, sparking global fascination with ancient Egypt and generating the popular legend of the "Curse of the Pharaohs." The tomb's contents required ten years to fully document and remove.
Charles M. Schulz
American Cartoonist — Creator of Peanuts
Charles M. Schulz created the Peanuts comic strip in 1950 and drew it for fifty years, introducing Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the gang to generations of readers worldwide. At its peak the strip appeared in 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries, making it one of the most widely read comic strips in history.
Tina Turner
American-Swiss Singer and Entertainer
Tina Turner was one of rock and soul music's greatest performers, celebrated for her powerful voice and electrifying stage presence. After escaping an abusive marriage to Ike Turner, she staged one of music history's greatest comebacks in the 1980s with hits like "What's Love Got to Do with It" and became the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll."
Willis Carrier
American Engineer — Inventor of Air Conditioning
Willis Carrier invented modern air conditioning in 1902, fundamentally changing how humans live and work in hot climates. His Carrier Engineering Corporation became the dominant manufacturer of cooling systems, and his invention is credited with enabling the economic rise of the American Sun Belt and modern industrial productivity.
Captain Cook Visits Maui
Captain James Cook became the first European to visit the Hawaiian island of Maui during his third Pacific voyage. His arrival in the Hawaiian Islands the previous January had begun a fateful contact between European civilization and the Indigenous Hawaiian people.
First U.S. Thanksgiving Day Proclaimed
President George Washington proclaimed November 26, 1789 as a day of national thanksgiving — the first such proclamation by an American president. The holiday asked citizens to give thanks for the successful conclusion of the Revolutionary War and the ratification of the new Constitution.
Battle of Berezina — Napoleon's Desperate Crossing
Napoleon's retreating Grande Armée crossed the Berezina River in Belarus under relentless attack from Russian forces. Engineers built pontoon bridges under fire while thousands of soldiers and civilians struggled to cross; the battle became a synonym for catastrophe, though Napoleon managed to save the core of his army.
Lincoln Establishes Annual Thanksgiving
President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation establishing Thanksgiving as a national annual holiday to be observed on the last Thursday of November. Lincoln's proclamation, drafted at the urging of writer Sarah Josepha Hale, transformed what had been a regional celebration into a permanent American institution.
NHL Founded in Montreal
The National Hockey League was founded in Montreal with five original franchises, replacing the disbanded National Hockey Association. The new league quickly became North America's premier professional ice hockey organization and has grown into a major global sports institution.
Casablanca Premieres in New York
Warner Bros. rushed the film Casablanca into a limited New York City release to capitalize on news of the Allied landing in North Africa. The film, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, went on to win three Academy Awards including Best Picture and became one of the most beloved films in cinema history.
Brink's-Mat Robbery: Gold Heist at Heathrow
Six robbers broke into the Brink's-Mat warehouse at Heathrow Airport expecting to steal cash, but found instead 6,800 gold bars worth £26 million — the largest cash robbery in British history at the time. Most of the gold was never recovered, and the case became notorious for its violent aftermath.
Mumbai Terror Attacks Kill 175
Ten Pakistani militants from the Lashkar-e-Taiba group carried out a coordinated series of terrorist attacks across Mumbai, targeting the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and other sites. The four-day siege killed approximately 175 people and wounded hundreds more, dramatically escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
HistorIQly Chat
Ask the figures of history about this day
Dive deeper — ask questions, challenge assumptions, hear the story in their own words. Powered by AI, grounded in history.
Start a conversation →Isabella I of Castile
Queen of Castile and León
Isabella I, who co-ruled Spain with Ferdinand II, sponsored Columbus's voyage to the Americas and oversaw the Spanish Inquisition. Her death ended the personal union of Castile and Aragon that had created a unified Spain, and her will sparked a succession crisis that briefly threatened to divide the kingdom.
Sojourner Truth
American Abolitionist and Women's Rights Activist
Sojourner Truth, born into slavery in New York, became one of the most powerful abolitionist and women's rights voices of the nineteenth century. Her 1851 speech known as "Ain't I a Woman?" remains one of the most celebrated addresses in American history.
The figures and events above are only the beginning. Dive deeper into history with HistorIQly's full collection.
Discover Your Day
What happened on your birthday?
Every date in history holds its own stories. Find the events, birthdays, and turning points that share your day.